Author's Notes: This is based on a few songs,
ARTIST: Stephen Sondheim
TITLE: On the Steps of the Palace From "Into the
Woods" And From the Movie/Play "Slipper and the
Rose" Once I Was Loved and Tell him anything. For
those of you who would like the Lyrics or The cd
title from which i got these songs Please PM or
email me and I will tell you. For those of you who
prefer the actual Last names from the show I am
afraid that Tuski would not fit in this time and
place so I have changed her Last name to Fortescu.
Thanks So much!
Disclaimer: I do not nor ever will I Own Sailor Moon
or any of the Characters associated with it. I also
do not own In to the woods or the slipper and the
rose nor the songs from which I got my inspiration.
ARTIST: Stephen Sondheim
TITLE: On the Steps of the Palace
Lyrics
Into the Woods
He's a very smart Prince
He's a Prince who prepares
Knowing this time I'd run from him
He spread pitch on the stairs
I was caught unawares
And I thought: well, he cares
This is more than just malice
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace
You think, what do you want?
You think, make a decision
Why not stay and be caught?
You think, well, it's a thought
What would be his response?
But then what if he knew
Who you were when you know
That you're not what he thinks
That he wants?
And then what if you are
What a Prince would envision?
Although how can you know
Who you are till you know
What you want, which you don't?
So then which do you pick
Where you're safe, out of sight
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Or where everything's right
And you know that you'll never belong?
And whichever you pick
Do it quick
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace
It's your first big decision
The choice isn't easy to make
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all
Once you're there, though, it's scary
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave
But you have to be wary
There's a lot that's at stake
But you've stalled long enough
'Cause you're still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps
Better run along home
And avoid the collision
Even though they don't care
You'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose
So there's nothing to lose
So you pry up your shoes
Then from out of the blue
And without any guide
You know what your decision is
Which is not to decide
You'll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe
And then see what he'll do
Now it's he and not you
Who is stuck with a shoe
In a stew
In the goo
And you've learned something, too
Something you never knew
On the steps of the palace
Stuck on the Steps!
By:
Selena O'Brian
Serena sat on the steps by the kitchen door peeling the potatoes for dinner that night. Her blond hair cascaded down her back in a waterfall of curls. She loved sitting outside to do her work; after all she only got so much peace a day.
CRASH!
'And now my peace is done,' she sighed as she jumped up and ran into the kitchen. She coughed as the cloud of flour hit her as the door opened. The flour smoke cleared up and she saw a boy slumped in the middle of the floor. The pots dumped around him and that night's vegetables for dinner scattered everywhere.
"James! Are you alright?" She exclaimed rushing to his side.
"Yeah I'm alright Miss Serena." He noticed the mess surrounding them and his lower lip started to tremble. "I didn't mean to make a mess... Pa's Gonna kill me for this!" Serena smiled and shook her head.
"No he won't James, honey, I'll clean it up and no one will notice. How did it happen Hon?" She asked as she helped James to his feet and then began to clean up the vegetables.
"I was rushing to get outside before Uncle Darien gets here," James said and then realizing what exactly he had announced.
"Oh No! I gotta go Miss Serena! If I'm late he'll leave me!" With that outburst James rushed from the kitchen slamming the door behind him.
Serena shook her head and grabbed the broom and started to sweep up all the flour.
"This is going to come out of my wages," she mumbled. "At least I've already got the bread rising for today. I'll just have to drive to town tomorrow and get new flour from Mr. Johnason." Sighing at the flour pile she swept out the door she grabbed two buckets and walked toward the water pump. As she filled the buckets she watched the cowhands working. She always loved to watch the men work. When she was younger her father would take her out to help as much as she could.
Whe she was on the Triple S, She always had something to do. Whether helping with the roundup or just basic chores, she had loved it. Her throat tightened blinking back the tears. Thinking of the Triple S always caused this reaction in her. Thinking of her family was the one thing she hated doing. She was sure her sisters never thought of the family, and so why should she? She carried the water back inside. She wet a rag in one bucket and began to wash the floor.
She saw the Triple S in her mind, the big house standing two stories high, the bunk house behind it and Momma's garden right behind the kitchen. She saw her Papa, his eyes bright and laughing as he tickled her sisters...
"Angel, where are you?" Papa called as he and her sisters SaraLee, and Safi searched the house for her hiding spot. She giggled slightly and clasped her hand over her mouth to try to muffle it. She heard footsteps in front of the wardrobe and tried to mash back into the clothes more. Papa opened the doors and smiled as he saw her shiny golden hair,
"Girls I think I found something!" Safi and SaraLee rushed into their mother's room and stood in front of the wardrobe. Knowing she was caught Serena flung herself at her Papa. He swept all three of his daughters up and collapsed onto the bed. The shrieks of laughter filled the house and their mother walking in from the garden smiling and following the sound to her room.
"Well if it isn't my happy bunch," she said with a smile. Tossing each one of the girls a piece of candy from her drawer, she laughed as she told them to head to the table.
"Papa and I need to talk," she said. The girls left the room, but Serena stood outside behind the closed door.
"What is it Love?"
"I got a letter today, my mother is coming to visit and she's bringing Jonathan with her."
Papa's voice suddenly lost all of its previous happiness.
"Why is she bringing him Tanya?"
"I don't know William, I only know that she said she would be on the train today or tomorrow. Please William, I cannot bear to see you and Mother despising each other. Will you please try, for my sake?"
Serena heard her father sigh, "Of course Tanya anything for you, you know that."
Serena heard them moving to the door and she rushed into the other room.
"Angels, we are going to have a visitor soon," Papa said. Safi's Eyes lit up. "Oh? Who is it Papa?"
"Your grams is coming Safi."
The Train Station the next day
Jonathan's face twisted as he stepped off the train.
"How can you allow her to live in this mess Emily? This town, if you can even call it that, is positively barbaric!"
"I know Jon, we will just have to try to talk her and this ridiculous William into moving back home. They can't be making any money off that Ranch of theirs," Emily said with disgust in her voice.
"My baby even has to make her own clothes!" Emily shuddered at the thought. "And if she doesn't make the clothes for her family, she buys them off the rack at the General store."
The horror in her voice was apparent. Seeing the wagon containing her daughter, Emily rushed off from the train platform.
"My luggage is waiting, William," she told him barely even taking notice. "Tanya, my dear, how are you? Where are my darling grandchildren?"
Safi and SaraLee walked around from the back of the wagon.
"Hello Grams how are you?"
Emily's lips twisted as she corrected them.
"It's Grandmama dearlings. Where is the little one? Cristina? That's her name correct?"
Serena hugged her cat close and took her dog's collar.
"Its Serena," she said with her voice as haughty as six year olds' could get. "How are you Grams?"
Emily patted Her lightly on the head
"Serena.. Hmm you poor child, Your schooling must not be up to Snuff, seeing
as you cannot comprehend a single request.
Tanya How could you allow this to happen to your own daughter?" Emily showed no care for
anyone feelings when she was in her snits, and this was one.
"Jonathan My dear boy please escort me to this.." She paused and considered the
wagon with a look not much different than one consideres a snake, "Thing.. To be
taken to my daughter's home." Serena Bounded into the back of the wagon as
Jonathan helped her Granmother into the front of the buckboard. The others followed
and Serena sat toward the end petting her Cat.
After they had loadded all the luggage William Took the reins and prepared to head
Home, As he slowly started to make his way down the street Serena's cat jumped from
her lap.
"LUNA!" She called and jumped down after her.
"Serenity Anne Fortescu! Where do you think you are going?"