Disclaimer: I don't claim to own Naoko-sama's characters. I just
can't fight the inspiration her masterpiece gives me.
Notes: Any feedback welcomed!
**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^
Step after step - fast, strong, confident. No fear, no doubts, no hope.
A warrior. Loneliness, pride, sanity. Reflexes are quick, senses are
sharp, experience is vast. Any danger, anywhere, will be met readily.
Where the path leads to? Step after step...
She wiped her forehead with a back of her free left hand. That one swift
motion - and she was composed again. Long sword did a graceful swirl,
due to a flick of her hand, but it was more of overcaution. Her opponent
was a limp mass at her feet. A drop of blood fell down from the tip of
the sword. She smirked.
"Th-thank you, sir!" bubbled the inn owner in relief, watching as other
two of his attackers, moaning from pain, carried their leader away.
"How can I ever..."
"Good dinner could be an equal repay" she said, wrapping her cape around
herself, so her exquisite armor couldn't draw more stares.
The dinner was a masterpiece indeed, but she munched it quickly to
save time for sleeping. Two weeks of travelling through a deserted,
nonetheless dangerous, rocky land were exhausting. She stretched and
blew off the candle.
"Sir Herschel?" was suddenly a voice at the door. Before thinking, she
was already on her feet and armed. The door opened carefully, revealing
the inn owner's figure lit by candle.
"Don't *ever* do that again. I almost got you killed as intruder. Where
did that name come from, by the way?" she sheathed the sword, relieved.
"That figured out" shrugged the man and beamed a smile. "I'm happy to
welcome such a great warrior at my inn, Sir. If you need anything..."
"No, thank you...Ah, wait. Do you know where can I buy a good horse?"
she asked, remembering. *That damn wolves! The horse cost me 1000!*
"Oh, yeah! It's gonna be Spring fair opening tomorrow" little man was
obviously glad to be any help for his savior.
Maybe, like a hawk among pigeons, or a lynx among rabbits, she was
among peasants and merchants. Tall, slender, nonetheless built, she
moved like a feather through a sparse forest. Worn deep blue cape fell
on her back, covering the crossbow. A long sword with nicely done golden
hilt rested at her side. Armored leather vest, accompanied with metal
arm shields, that she wore over a white collared shirt, was something
strange and disturbingly unusual among bright clothes of people. She
ignored stares and moved ahead, looking around at picture of prosperity
and peace that was the fair. Spotting the place where horses were sold,
finally, she was ready to go there, when something startled her. It was
something she noticed with a corner of her eye. She turned. *Oh, damn*
"Young, fresh virgins for tasteful! They're beautiful, and cost not
more than a pleasure they can give!" the voice was high and annoying,
a professional slave trader's one.
She narrowed her eyes in disgust. Slavery wasn't rare in that dark,
medieval times. Furthermore, it was still legitime.
The seller raised his whip: "Come here, now!". and a cloaked figure
winced and stepped ahead frightenedly. He grabbed the dirty cloak and
tore it off. "A jewel! Angelic beauty!" he yelled, pushing a slave
forward, so she was exposed to the curious crowd.
'Sir' Herschel was amazed. The girl didn't belong to any people of the
world she knew. She had big silver eyes, and her silver hair was up
in the weirdest way to imagine, flowing down in tails from two balls.
*Something...something about her...a light? Warmth?* was on warrior's
mind when she heard: "Eight hundred! Who gives more?"
"Thousand!...Twelve hudred!" were voices everywhere. The girl looked
at the crowd with fear, seeing dirty, hungry looks of men. Suddenly she
met the eyes of a some man, who towered above others. Shimmering eyes
of cold steel color. He looked at her seriously, and then winked.
The price was three thousand already, more than any slave cost ever.
"Five thousand" said the warrior, surprising herself with that sudden
decision. *That girl...*
"Sold!!!" cried the trader in shoked silence.
Cursing herself mentally, she gave the money, but before they even
turned slave girl's side, a victorous scream was heard. "There she is!!
Get her, now!!!"
*What the hell?*
Seven or about black shadows on equally black horses rushed to the
slave tradery. "Get her!" yelled the man again, leading others. Black-clad
attacker outstrethed a hand to grab the silver-haired girl, but, in
instant, yelled in pain as a flash of light yellow cut off his arm.
"Hey, that's not your property!" yelled the 'new owner', shielding the
girl with herself, and holding a sword. "Back off!"
Without a word, they attacked. She dodged a hit and plunged the blade
through one's stomach. Then, a high back flip - and two others met each
other. One direct and powerful blow after another, she got rid of two
more. Slight sound behind - and she confidently thrust the sword back,
when heard a scream of the silver beauty, who was in hands of the enemy.
She got the crossbow from her back and shot, seemingly not aiming, but
the arrow hit the man dead, and the girl was safe. Herschel swung the
crossbow back and pulled her sword from attacker's chest. "Thanks for
holding it" she muttered.
"What do you think you're doing?"
She turned quickly and saw the last one, the leader, holding a sword to
girl's throat. "Drop the sword!"
"Defending myself, maybe?" she replied, glaring daggers, but doing so.
"Give up the girl and you will live! Or die, if you insist"
Somewhere near, voices were approaching. The man sneered, recognizing
others. There was no time.
Carefully, she got a dirk from her sleeve, behind her back.
"How about no?"
The dirk struck into the man's shoulder, and as he let go the girl,
yelping and clinging at the wound, she rushed to his horse, the finest
of all one, got into saddle and grabbed the girl by her waist, riding
near. Then - to gates of the city, and the road led away...
...She looked at the fire wistfully, watching the flames. Actually, she
was watching the girl, whose silver hair was tinted yellow by the fire.
The night was cold. She was used to even worst weather, but the girl
was shivering. She silently got up and wrapped her cape around the
gentle figure.
"Thank you..." she whispered. Was she crying? Her delicate face was
sad. "For everything"
"Who were that men?" asked the warrior. "Why were they after you?"
"I don't know" the girl shook her head.
"Hmm..." (*What have I've got myself into?*) "So, who are you?"
The girl smiled weakly. "I don't know...or rather don't remember"
"???"
"I woke up in the forest, alone, two weeks ago. I can't remember anything
about who am I or where am I from. That's the only thing I had besides
clothes" she reached under her blouse, blushing, and took out a medallion,
that was dangling on a thin chain. *Hm, gold!* thought 'sir' Herschel
and opened it carefully. Inside the shallow medallion there was written
one word.
"Serenity?"
"You know that language?" surprised the girl. "I couldn't read it myself"
"What does this mean - Serenity? Is this your name?"
"Maybe...it sounds so familiar..." she was confused.
"Let's assume it is,...Serenity" sighed the warrior. She got up and walked
to the horse. The black animal looked at her with intelligent eyes, as
ate the grass her new owner gave it.
"Eh...sir?" called Serenity. The one in question smirked.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself" she said. "I'm Heaven. Heaven
Herschel...So you're not the only one with a strange name"
Serenity smiled brightly. "It's not strange, it's very beautiful. A
proper name for an angel who save me. Thank you again, Sir Herschel"
"Call me just Heaven" she sat against the tree, comfortably. "And by the
way, I'm not a 'sir'. I'm female"
She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep. Serenity, wide-eyed, looked
at her.
**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^
No Sailor Senshi were harmed while writing this (actually, there wasn't
any in this part)
can't fight the inspiration her masterpiece gives me.
Notes: Any feedback welcomed!
**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^
Step after step - fast, strong, confident. No fear, no doubts, no hope.
A warrior. Loneliness, pride, sanity. Reflexes are quick, senses are
sharp, experience is vast. Any danger, anywhere, will be met readily.
Where the path leads to? Step after step...
She wiped her forehead with a back of her free left hand. That one swift
motion - and she was composed again. Long sword did a graceful swirl,
due to a flick of her hand, but it was more of overcaution. Her opponent
was a limp mass at her feet. A drop of blood fell down from the tip of
the sword. She smirked.
"Th-thank you, sir!" bubbled the inn owner in relief, watching as other
two of his attackers, moaning from pain, carried their leader away.
"How can I ever..."
"Good dinner could be an equal repay" she said, wrapping her cape around
herself, so her exquisite armor couldn't draw more stares.
The dinner was a masterpiece indeed, but she munched it quickly to
save time for sleeping. Two weeks of travelling through a deserted,
nonetheless dangerous, rocky land were exhausting. She stretched and
blew off the candle.
"Sir Herschel?" was suddenly a voice at the door. Before thinking, she
was already on her feet and armed. The door opened carefully, revealing
the inn owner's figure lit by candle.
"Don't *ever* do that again. I almost got you killed as intruder. Where
did that name come from, by the way?" she sheathed the sword, relieved.
"That figured out" shrugged the man and beamed a smile. "I'm happy to
welcome such a great warrior at my inn, Sir. If you need anything..."
"No, thank you...Ah, wait. Do you know where can I buy a good horse?"
she asked, remembering. *That damn wolves! The horse cost me 1000!*
"Oh, yeah! It's gonna be Spring fair opening tomorrow" little man was
obviously glad to be any help for his savior.
Maybe, like a hawk among pigeons, or a lynx among rabbits, she was
among peasants and merchants. Tall, slender, nonetheless built, she
moved like a feather through a sparse forest. Worn deep blue cape fell
on her back, covering the crossbow. A long sword with nicely done golden
hilt rested at her side. Armored leather vest, accompanied with metal
arm shields, that she wore over a white collared shirt, was something
strange and disturbingly unusual among bright clothes of people. She
ignored stares and moved ahead, looking around at picture of prosperity
and peace that was the fair. Spotting the place where horses were sold,
finally, she was ready to go there, when something startled her. It was
something she noticed with a corner of her eye. She turned. *Oh, damn*
"Young, fresh virgins for tasteful! They're beautiful, and cost not
more than a pleasure they can give!" the voice was high and annoying,
a professional slave trader's one.
She narrowed her eyes in disgust. Slavery wasn't rare in that dark,
medieval times. Furthermore, it was still legitime.
The seller raised his whip: "Come here, now!". and a cloaked figure
winced and stepped ahead frightenedly. He grabbed the dirty cloak and
tore it off. "A jewel! Angelic beauty!" he yelled, pushing a slave
forward, so she was exposed to the curious crowd.
'Sir' Herschel was amazed. The girl didn't belong to any people of the
world she knew. She had big silver eyes, and her silver hair was up
in the weirdest way to imagine, flowing down in tails from two balls.
*Something...something about her...a light? Warmth?* was on warrior's
mind when she heard: "Eight hundred! Who gives more?"
"Thousand!...Twelve hudred!" were voices everywhere. The girl looked
at the crowd with fear, seeing dirty, hungry looks of men. Suddenly she
met the eyes of a some man, who towered above others. Shimmering eyes
of cold steel color. He looked at her seriously, and then winked.
The price was three thousand already, more than any slave cost ever.
"Five thousand" said the warrior, surprising herself with that sudden
decision. *That girl...*
"Sold!!!" cried the trader in shoked silence.
Cursing herself mentally, she gave the money, but before they even
turned slave girl's side, a victorous scream was heard. "There she is!!
Get her, now!!!"
*What the hell?*
Seven or about black shadows on equally black horses rushed to the
slave tradery. "Get her!" yelled the man again, leading others. Black-clad
attacker outstrethed a hand to grab the silver-haired girl, but, in
instant, yelled in pain as a flash of light yellow cut off his arm.
"Hey, that's not your property!" yelled the 'new owner', shielding the
girl with herself, and holding a sword. "Back off!"
Without a word, they attacked. She dodged a hit and plunged the blade
through one's stomach. Then, a high back flip - and two others met each
other. One direct and powerful blow after another, she got rid of two
more. Slight sound behind - and she confidently thrust the sword back,
when heard a scream of the silver beauty, who was in hands of the enemy.
She got the crossbow from her back and shot, seemingly not aiming, but
the arrow hit the man dead, and the girl was safe. Herschel swung the
crossbow back and pulled her sword from attacker's chest. "Thanks for
holding it" she muttered.
"What do you think you're doing?"
She turned quickly and saw the last one, the leader, holding a sword to
girl's throat. "Drop the sword!"
"Defending myself, maybe?" she replied, glaring daggers, but doing so.
"Give up the girl and you will live! Or die, if you insist"
Somewhere near, voices were approaching. The man sneered, recognizing
others. There was no time.
Carefully, she got a dirk from her sleeve, behind her back.
"How about no?"
The dirk struck into the man's shoulder, and as he let go the girl,
yelping and clinging at the wound, she rushed to his horse, the finest
of all one, got into saddle and grabbed the girl by her waist, riding
near. Then - to gates of the city, and the road led away...
...She looked at the fire wistfully, watching the flames. Actually, she
was watching the girl, whose silver hair was tinted yellow by the fire.
The night was cold. She was used to even worst weather, but the girl
was shivering. She silently got up and wrapped her cape around the
gentle figure.
"Thank you..." she whispered. Was she crying? Her delicate face was
sad. "For everything"
"Who were that men?" asked the warrior. "Why were they after you?"
"I don't know" the girl shook her head.
"Hmm..." (*What have I've got myself into?*) "So, who are you?"
The girl smiled weakly. "I don't know...or rather don't remember"
"???"
"I woke up in the forest, alone, two weeks ago. I can't remember anything
about who am I or where am I from. That's the only thing I had besides
clothes" she reached under her blouse, blushing, and took out a medallion,
that was dangling on a thin chain. *Hm, gold!* thought 'sir' Herschel
and opened it carefully. Inside the shallow medallion there was written
one word.
"Serenity?"
"You know that language?" surprised the girl. "I couldn't read it myself"
"What does this mean - Serenity? Is this your name?"
"Maybe...it sounds so familiar..." she was confused.
"Let's assume it is,...Serenity" sighed the warrior. She got up and walked
to the horse. The black animal looked at her with intelligent eyes, as
ate the grass her new owner gave it.
"Eh...sir?" called Serenity. The one in question smirked.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself" she said. "I'm Heaven. Heaven
Herschel...So you're not the only one with a strange name"
Serenity smiled brightly. "It's not strange, it's very beautiful. A
proper name for an angel who save me. Thank you again, Sir Herschel"
"Call me just Heaven" she sat against the tree, comfortably. "And by the
way, I'm not a 'sir'. I'm female"
She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep. Serenity, wide-eyed, looked
at her.
**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^**^
No Sailor Senshi were harmed while writing this (actually, there wasn't
any in this part)