A Child's Tale: Chapter 1
G
Aarana

Disclaimer: Surprise! I don't own Sailor Moon (I had you fooled though right?)

AN: A remake of my original story "A Childs Tale" found under the name Aarana Sky. With this one I just consolidated the prologue and chapter one, and made a few changes in how it's written. I really hope to finish this story this time. It really has been in the back of my mind for almost 10years to do so!

"It was a thousand years ago. Inside the palace the calming music flowed as people danced, oblivious of any discord. Outside, the good Queen had arrived in hopes of seeing her true love, but all around, others tried to stop her. She tried to avoid any conflict but was captured by the evil Queen. The evil Queen had enchanted her beloved so that he fell in love with another, forgetting about the one who truly loved him. The evil Queen then banished her, to live alone for all eternity. To this day, the good Queen still waits for her love to come and rescue her..."

"Grandma?"

The aging woman glanced down at the little girl that sat in her lap. Not yet 5 years old, this girl bore a great burden on her shoulders, and while she was not of her blood, she would suit her own nefarious purpose. Although, no matter how much she hated everything that represented this child, she couldn't help but smile at the childlike innocence of that wide-eyed look.

"Yes my child?"

The little girl looked up and studied her 'Grandma'. She had been pretty once...but she knew that hard times had stripped away her youthfulness and left hatred and ugliness behind.

"I will avenge you."

The old women pretended to look shocked. "What makes you think that story was about me?"

The young girl shook her shoulders and thought about that for a moment. "I just know." Not waiting for a response, she jumped off of her grandma's lap and pranced out of the room.

Beryl laughed at her luck. Soon, very soon the princess will be on her side...and all would go her way this time. She fumbled with the worn blanket on her lap, thinking about the delicious future her and her prince were going to have, and had only mild regret about what would happen to that child.

Many years have passed. Usagi is 14, and a happy child. However, she does have her own issues. Her Grandmother was getting on her case again. Grandmother wants her to pick up her grades. But why did she have to? She was happy as she was. She didn't need to have good grades. She was happy reading her Manga and playing video games.

Usagi sighed and continued her walk down Main Street when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Mamoru.

Usagi blushed and walked a little faster. No one must know that she had a crush on him. For years Usagi has been watching him from a distance, yet was afraid to show herself. They have never met face to face...but it was hard not to know him when every girl in town knew him. She often wondered why she liked him. Depending on which day you ask her will yield a different answer. Some days, it's because of his dark hair and blue eyes that can pierce you with just a glance. Other times it is the way the he smiles just after a funny story has been told, or the gentle smile when offering assistance to another. There are also days that she just feels that strong connection that ties two individuals together. That strong connection that makes you feel like you want to be with that one person forever. Ultimately, she decided, it was because he was like her. Behind all those smiles and looks, she saw the loneliness there. The loneliness that matched her emptiness. Both without parents, or without someone to hold during those hard times. Oh, people chase after him, but no one has actually captured him.

Finally, after the long walk, she made it to Rei's temple and they began the 'party'. Every week Usagi, Ami, Rei, Minako, and Makoto get together and just hang out. No one knows how this tradition started, for they have been friends for a very long time.

"So Usagi" Rei called as Usagi entered the temple. "Late again I see"

"Quiet Rei" Usagi exclaimed. "Grandma made me clean the house again."

The group gave each other knowing looks. Usagi was an orphan. Ever since the age of two, when her parents were in that accident, her 'Grandmother' has taken care of her. No one knows where she came from, of if she really was her grandmother. All they knew at the time was that someone was there to take care of the little girl...and that they didn't have too. Life had been hard on Usagi. Her
grandmother pushed her was too hard. To Usagi's friends, the Grandmother seemed evil. Rei never liked going to Usagi's house. It was creepy and gave her weird feelings. No one thought that there was anything really normal about that old woman, except the one person that actually cares for her.

"Shut up you guys!"

All looked at each other, startled

"What Usagi?" Makoto piped up "We didn't say anything"

"It was those looks, it's always those looks." Usagi jumped up and ran out the door. The group thought nothing of it. This had happened before, and this probably would happen again.

Out of the shadows came a black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead. Still unseen by the group of girls, Luna decided that now was the time to bring forth the Sailor Senshi...they were ready.

She watched as the rest of the scouts continued on with their 'party'. She was plagued with thoughts
about Usagi though. Sailor Moon has a lot of trouble ahead of her. But if she is strong enough, she will prevail. But the question was...is she strong enough?

Usagi ran down the street, trying to keep the tears at bay. Was her Grandmother that bad? She had thought of that, but had always stopped before her thoughts could get too far. How could she think that of her Grandmother when she was the only one in the world that was there for her? Sure she was strict but...before she could continue with her thoughts; Usagi went down with a thud. Without looking where she was going, so lost in thought as she was, she ran into something that felt like a pure brick wall.

"Gomen" she said softly, to startled to say anything else. When she raised her eyes just a bit, she ran into the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen. Bluer than the ocean on a clear day, and the crisp autumn sky. And they belonged to the last person she wanted to see. The last person she would ever love. Mamoru.

"Gomen." He heard the soft voice that melted in his ears. A soft sound that was not only Melodious but sensual. He was too shook up to say anything, so he looked down and met
the eyes of the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his life. Long sultry blond hair that covered her shoulders after falling from an odd style that lay atop her head, soft facial curves that
made him want to trace every little feature with his fingers, and a kissable mouth that made him think little of else. These features belonged to the person he secretly longed for. Though he knew not her name, he felt a connection to her that he could not explain. He has watched her over the years...but never bothered to learn her name. Was it time to ask for her name? Was it time for them to be together?

Mamoru eventually composed himself. They were in the middle of the street and they were just staring at each other. "What is your name I ask? You owe me as much after you knocked me down."

Usagi let out a startled squeak. This wasn't a dream, and he was there talking to her. Scared for the security that she placed highly around her heart, she stood up and ran off without a backward glance, leaving Mamoru to wonder what he had done wrong.

Mamoru entered his apartment and let out a defeated sigh. He just screwed up the perfect opportunity to meet the women of his dreams. He had to find out what her name was. He was content before knowing that she was around and staying in the foreground...but for some reason, he knew something was changing and felt that he had to get closer to her to protect her. But did he only want to protect her? No her wanted to love her, and have him love her.

Usagi ran up to her room, careful not to disturb her sleeping grandmother, and threw herself on the bed. Giving herself to the sobbing, Usagi stayed like that and rocked back and forth, a comfort
action that was always able to keep the bad thoughts away before...but did not seem to help now. It was times like this that she did hate her grandmother. She felt that given time, she could easily fall in
love with Mamoru. She wasn't allowed to fall in love though; her thoughts were to stay at getting revenge for all of the wrong doings against her grandmother. She had made that promise all those years ago that she would avenge her. How could she break her word now?

She was mad at all the people in that tale for screwing with her life this way, even if it was unintentional. The evil Queen and her mysterious warriors plagued at her mind all of the time. Her Grandmother never let it rest, so of course she never forgot it. Every night like clockwork
Grandmother told the same story. Usagi had known the story by heart when she was six, so listening to the story every night was just to make her Grandmother happy. It seemed that the only time she was ever happy was when Usagi made her nightly promise "I will avenge you"