Wow…this was first written on a whim 3 years ago…I can't believe it. Just looking through, and realizing how much my writing has changed over time, I realized that this story, as with all my other stories, needed to be revised, badly. Therefore, until I go back and revise all the chapters, I will not add anymore to the story.

Disclaimer I don't own SM or GW.

(revised May 7, 2005)

Banishment

Chapter One: Punished

Outside, it was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining brightly on Neo Tokyo, and the cool breeze that raced with the children insured that it did not get too hot. The aforementioned children were laughing and having the time of their young lives, mimicking the birds up in the green trees.

It was slightly ironic that on such a beautiful day a young woman was to be banished.

Inside the palace of Queen Serenity and her husband Endymion, the windows were drawn, letting no sun shine through. The room was meant to look as menacing as the look on three grimy men's faces. The three men were sitting behind a polished oak desk, papers piled neatly in front of them. Facing them, a medley of people sat.

Queen Serenity sat on the edge of her seat, anxiously twisting her slender fingers into her white, silk dress. On her head, her tiara of crystals twinkled like the tears that were forming in her eyes. She frowned and chewed on her lower lip as the judges conferred in front of them. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the man seated next to her.

King Endymion glanced back at her impassively. His fine features were marred only by the large gash that ran across his cheek and the white bandage that was wrapped around his head, barely covered by his jet black hair. At the questioning look in his wife's eyes, he shook his head slightly. She turned away.

Behind their lord and lady, a few more women sat. Minako fidgeted in her seat, playing with her blonde hair. Her light blue eyes were dimmed with worry as she regarded the judges. Ami, sitting next to her, had her eyes trained on her clasped hands, knowing that if she looked up, she would cry. Makoto, her brown hair lying loose, rather than the usual ponytail it was in, had one hand wrapped around Ami's shoulder and the other clutching the hand of a pink-haired girl beside her. Rini clutched at Makoto's hand tightly, afraid that if she let go, her world would fall apart even more than it was now. She leaned heavily onto her best friend, Hotaru. At the moment, Hotaru seemed to be in just as bad a shape as Rini, but valiantly composed herself. She spared a glance to the last two people in the row, Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa. Michiru was focusing all her efforts on keeping Haruka from doing anything rash, such as questioning—or hitting—the judges.

In between the judges and the Royal Court stood a black-haired woman. Of the entire room, she was the only one who had no look at all in her black eyes. She was wearing simple priestess garb, and her hair was tied in a loose ponytail. As the judges stirred and turned towards the people, she stood up even straighter and watched them.

The judge in the middle was fighting hard to maintain a frown, though his eyes glittered like a rat. A plump, evil, rat with rabies, Rei decided, and he probably smells like one too.

"We, the Royal Judges of Neo Tokyo, do hereby sentence Hino Rei to be banished from this world with charges of insubordination to her honorable King and treason for striking the King. She must be deployed to either the future, past, or an alternate world. The Queen will issue the deportation way."

Rei stood impassive throughout the judge's ruling, trembling when they brought up her striking Endymion. She clenched her jaw as the one in the middle fell silent and the one to his left continued for him.

"She will be banished without the ability to transform. For as long as she lives, she must never come back to this place." The judge speaking looked past Rei and to the Queen. "Queen Serenity, please make your ruling."

Serenity looked at Endymion, her tears starting to fall. "Please drop the charges, Endymion. Don't make me do it." She whispered. He shook his head, not once looking at her. She touched his hand. "Please, please…"

Her husband pulled his hand away. "Serenity, you must do this. You took an oath to maintain justice. This is just. You must decide her fate."

Serenity looked at Rei, who was looking down once more. Then she looked at the other Scouts: Makoto, Ami, Minako, Michiru, Haruka, Hotaru, and Setsuna. They stared back sadly, no answers on their faces. Rini had buried her face into Hotaru. Serenity nodded and made her choice.

"No! I won't!" She stood up, turning once more to plead with her husband. "Endymion, you must stop this! I won't go make a horrible decision! Don't make me choose! Please drop the char-"

"Serenity." The one word was said quietly, yet stopped the desperate pleas. Serenity looked at her best friend. Rei mustered up a small smile. "Serenity, I broke the rules. Let me go honorably. Don't embarrass me or you or your family. Don't go against your own laws. Now choose where I'll be banished. Please."

Serenity looked at Rei, then at the floor. Sitting down, she closed her eyes. A moment later, she looked Rei right in the eyes and said, "Another world." The court sighed, relieved she wasn't going to refuse.

"Hino-san's punishment will commence immediately." The judge on the right said. He motioned to Setsuna, the only scout in her uniform. Setsuna stood up, grabbed her staff, and walked to where Rei stood. Saying a few incoherent words, she pointed at a blank wall. The wall shifted and revealed a portal. Setsuna took the bindings off of Rei. Rei rubbed her wrists. As Rei began to shuffle towards the portal, Setsuna stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. The two scouts stood solemnly for a moment, before Setsuna released her. Rei closed her eyes and marched into her fate. She stopped one last time and looked over her shoulder. She took one last look at Neo Tokyo, one last look at her friends and home. She was gone.

Setsuna closed the portal. Goodbye, my friend. She stared at the place the portal had been, then walked out of the courtroom without a second glance. Serenity stood up and made her way out full of grace, although her nose was runny from her crying. The rest of the scouts silently followed, each wishing their banished friend was with them instead of the tears they had.

Well, there's chapter one revised. I hope you like it just as much as the first draft, or maybe better? Hehe, I love all my readers and I am so glad that you are sticking by me through it all.