Author's Note: Hello everyone! Here it is, my very first published fanfiction. I hope you enjoy. Please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Sailor Moon universe or original characters. I do own Starfire and the other characters in my story. Thanks to http/home.planet.nl/mbedaff/romdict.htm for some name and word ideas.
New MoonBy Aura Shiarr
As the cab drove away, Starfire Trenée stared at the massive gate before her with some apprehension. Hefting her single suitcase, she stepped forward and pushed the intercom button. The speaker buzzed, and shortly thereafter a high-pitched female voice emerged. "Welcome to the London International Academy. How may I help you?"
Starfire leaned forward and held down the com button. "Hello? My name is Starfire Trenée…I'm a new student."
"Ah, yes. The headmistress is expecting you, Miss Trenée. I'll buzz you in." The intercom emitted a loud tone and the great iron-wrought gates swung slowly open. Star paused to collect herself, tightened her grip on the suitcase, and stepped forward onto school grounds.
Almost two centuries ago, Lady Mona Nelson had died heirless and made provision in her will for a school to be built using her considerable fortune and the grounds of her mansion on the outskirts of London. It was to be a school primarily for the children of the diplomatic community.
Lady Nelson's father had served as the British ambassador to Portugal, and she had spent her childhood feeling lonely, bouncing from boarding school to boarding school. She wanted to create a place where children like her could have a sense of home. The school was also to accept a certain number of local scholarship students.
And so, in September of 1807, the London International Academy opened its gates to a charter class of fifty-three students. Now, as Starfire entered those same gates, with the addition of three classroom wings and two separate dormitory buildings, the Academy supported up to five hundred resident students.
Amaris Weir set the stack of papers to the side of her desk and stretched backward, massaging her neck with one hand. As much as she enjoyed her job at the Academy, her least favorite part was reviewing the finances. There came a tapping at her door. "Yes?"
Amaris' secretary, Julia, poked her head in the door. "There's a new student here to see you, Headmistress."
Amaris sat up straight and smiled. "Ah. Very good. Send her in then." The teenage girl who entered the office was slightly taller than average, fine of feature, and built like a dancer. Her silvery grey eyes glinted in the sunlight. She stood perfectly still except for her left hand, which fiddled with the end of her waist-length raven braid. She took in the office, with its dark wood furnishings and built-in bookshelves full to bursting. She then turned her attention to the woman occupying the space.
Amaris Weir was a shorter woman in her mid-thirties. Her shining brown hair was pulled back in a neat twist, and her dark eyes were framed by stylish glasses. She smiled as Starfire came in, and gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk. "Please, sit down. My name is Amaris Weir. Welcome." Star moved forward and sat down on the edge of the chair, her back straight. She smiled hesitantly in return. Amaris rummaged around in a desk drawer and pulled out a manila folder. "Ah. Here it is…Trenée, Starfire; lately of Saint Parasceva's School for Girls. An excellent student, I see…martial arts club, gymnastics…Oh, yes. I was curious about this. Your medical records say something about…amnesia?"
Star looked down at her hands. "Yes. When I was twelve. There was a gas explosion in my home. My parents…didn't make it. The police found me wandering the street, dazed and remembering nothing but my name. I still don't remember anything of my life before that day."
Amaris sat stunned for a moment. She couldn't say a thing, so she went back to examining the file. "It says here that your mother, Arianna, attended the Academy for her entire school career. We've taken the liberty of giving you her old room."
"You have?" Star brightened. "Thank you."
"Of course. Now, I should explain a few things. You are the first student to arrive this year, due to your special circumstances. The others will be arriving over the next few days. Also, since you are fifteen years of age, you are free to leave the campus any time between breakfast and dinnertime, so long as you inform the door warden where you are going. Provided, of course, that you are not supposed to be in class. Now, Julia will take you to Mrs. Connors. She is in charge of the girls' dormitory building. She'll explain everything about living here. I hope you'll enjoy your time here at the academy." She raised her voice and called, "Julia!"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Would you please escort Miss Trenée to the dormitory and introduce her to Mrs. Connors?"
"Certainly. If you would follow me?" Julia turned and left the office. Star rose and followed, pausing just outside the door to pick up her suitcase.
Starfire tossed her suitcase into the corner and collapsed onto the bed. She had spent the last hour in Mrs. Connors' office, having the dormitory rules explained to her in extreme detail. Now, finally, she had been shown to her room. The room, 550, was located at the very end of the hall on the fifth floor of five, near the common bathroom. Behind a heavy wooden door, the room contained a twin bed, a dresser with an attached mirror, a desk and chair, and a tiny closet that was mostly filled with the uniforms she had ordered before coming. There was very little excess space. The large window looked out over the kitchen garden.
Star just lay down for a moment and studied the ceiling. Ugh…I should unpack, she thought, I certainly won't feel like doing it later. She reluctantly rose and picked up her suitcase. Setting it atop the dresser, she took out her sheets and blanket, and quickly made the bed.
Then, from her suitcase she pulled a small wooden box inlaid with multi-coloured starbursts. It was Star's prized possession, the only object to survive intact the explosion of her childhood home. She had never been able to open it though. No matter how she tried, the lid refused to budge. She took it out carefully and placed it reverently on her desk.
Next, it was time to put away the clothing she had brought with her. She hung up her two formal dresses in the closet, and then pulled open the top drawer of the dresser. Or rather, she tried to. The drawer stuck halfway open. She tugged on it experimentally. It wouldn't move. She pulled harder. No luck. She tried again, but it wouldn't open, nor would it the next several times she tried. Frustrated, she yanked on the recalcitrant drawer with her full strength and weight. And barely managed to leap backwards in time to save her toes as the drawer crashed to the floor. She sighed and picked it up.
As she attempted to put the drawer back in, she noticed that a section of the wood on the rear corner had partially broken off. "Oh, no…" she groaned. I haven't broken something already… She sat down on the bed and attempted to push the piece of wood back into place. It wouldn't cooperate. As she shifted the drawer around to get a better look, the light glinted off something behind the broken piece of wood. She ceased her efforts to push it back, and instead pried it outward. Behind that thin layer of wood lay a tiny cavity, which was occupied by a slip of paper and a ring. She pulled them both out and unrolled the paper. Written in a flowing script were the words,
For my daughter, with love.
The drawer fell to the floor, forgotten. Star's hands shook as she read and reread the tiny piece of paper. Could it be…? My mother! She turned her attention to the ring. It was a heavy silver signet-style ring, but in place of a seal, a garnet starburst was set in the flattened top. She turned it over on her palm. There were words in odd antique lettering engraved inside the band.
Shiarrhian ir-Aidoann tr'Ainae
Her lips moved silently, trying to sound out the strange words. She shrugged and turned the ring back over. After a moment of hesitation, she pocketed the piece of paper and slipped the ring onto her left index finger, where it fit perfectly. "Well, this was my mother's room," she told herself, "But how could she have known she'd have a daughter?" Star retrieved and repaired the drawer, and seeing nothing else to do she continued unpacking, still troubled.