Snow Globe Princess
By Isanarya
Well, here is my first attempt at a Sailor Moon story. Hope you all like it. The inspiration for this came from…well I don't really know where or how I got the idea for this story. It just came to me I guess. Hope you all enjoy it. This is the revised chapter one.
Standard disclaimer: here's a news flash for you, I don't own sailor moon.
Prolog
Long ago, in some distant place
"Well, well, well" cooed a feminine voice dripping of venom and hate. "Whatever do we have here? Princess Serenity, all alone and with no protection? How…tragic." Evil laughter filled the air as the Sorceress descended from the stormy skies towards her intended victim. Here was the last member of the pathetic Moon clan. And here was the last piece to her final victory. Triumph washed over the Sorceress so strongly, she could practically taste it. "Why not give up now and just give me what I came for? What we both know it rightfully belongs to me?"
Cool blue eyes stared defiantly at her. Jealousy coursed through the Sorceress's veins as she gazed at the young woman before her, only to be quickly squashed beneath her own massive ego. 'Her beauty is nothing compared to mine, her power is nothing compared to mine.'
"Beryl, you may have destroyed my family, and you might succeed in killing me, but the Crystal shall never be yours." Those piercing blue eyes flashed with a deadly light, "Never."
"Oh, your death is guaranteed, make no mistake about that dear Princess. But you can save yourself a lot of pain and suffering by handing over that crystal. Otherwise, your death will be a slow and agonizing affair. I'm quite looking forward to it actually."
"You powers are no match for the crystal. Attempt what you will; the powers of the Crystal shall prevail."
"I grow bored with this conversation. I think I shall just kill you now and be done with it." With these final words, the Sorceress sent a blast of energy towards to Princess, only to have it bounce off a shield of pure light. "Curse you!"
Again and again, wave after wave of energy was blasted towards the Princess only to have it deflected off the Crystal's power. The Sorceress was running out of energy, she could not keep this barrage up, yet the Princess remained completely unscathed. Dark red eyes narrowed as they studied the opponent. Not quite unscathed. Perspiration had beaded across the Princess's brow and some slid down her temples. Even from this distance, the Sorceress could see that the Princess was breathing heavily. So it was true, the Crystal drew its power from the user.
"I can see now Princess that attacking you like this is going to get me no where. Too bad for you though, I have a better plan. If I cannot destroy you outright, I shall do so slowly. What makes this oh so appealing is the fact that your precious crystal shall be your downfall. And I plan on watching every minute of it." The Sorceress looked down upon a fallen figure a few yards away from the Princess. "It's a shame he couldn't be here to see this. He might have enjoyed the show. Were your parting words filled with unrequited love?"
Princess Serenity just glared at the Sorceress while her hands clenched into fists.
"No answer? Pity, oh well, I guess that just leaves me with one thing left to do." And the Sorceress sent another beam of energy towards the Princess, yet instead of bouncing off the shield as before, it surrounded the shield, covering it like a blanket. Soon that power started to compress upon the Crystal's power, it squeezed in on itself all the while causing the Princess to grow smaller and smaller. Princess Serenity was frozen in time, her hands clasped before her chest, her head turned back to the love she never got to hold as she ascended towards the Sorceress high above her. Still the Princess shrank as the Crystal, her family's heirloom and most powerful weapon, was set under her feet and placed on a pedestal. At last, the Sorceress' blanket of power stopped pulsating and formed a glass globe around the Princess and the Crystal.
"What a nice little trinket you shall make for me, Princess. And just think, as you stay in there the Crystal will be all you need to stay alive, yet all the while draining you of your powers and eventually your life force. How tragic that the one thing that saves you will also be what destroys you." Again the Sorceress laughed as she reached for the prize hovering inches before her. But that laughter turned into a scream of rage as the one thing she desired most in the universe rose up above her and shot off towards the distant stars. The Crystal's powers ensuring a safe journey to a place forever out of the Sorceress' reach.
Chapter One
It was 7:25 on an already hot summer morning. Cars roared by as people rushed to make it to work on time. For most, it was a typical Monday morning, but not for one man.
"Shit! I'm going to be late! Why does this have to happen to me? And on today of all days?" A young man looked down at his watch and groaned. "This is the last time I let Andrew barrow my car. Now I'm going to be late and the meeting will start without me and there goes the multi-million dollar deal, right along with my job."
The man's name was Darien Chiba. He worked for a big pharmaceutical company that was owned by his grandfather. Although he wouldn't really lose his job, he would lose the trust his grandfather and the board had given him. And though Darien wasn't the type of man who indulged in fantasies, he was desperately wishing for a magic carpet to show up right about now.
Stopping right in the middle of the crowded city sidewalk Darien asked for miracle. It was then that he heard it. A melody that was not only haunting, but also beautiful and mystical. He looked for a source of the sound, yet found none. And then he saw it, a little shop called "Luna's Antiques".
'Maybe it came from there?' In spite of himself, Darien was drawn to the shop. "Oh well, it's not like being an extra five minutes late will hurt me." So Darien entered the shop not knowing what to expect, but knew he had to find out where that music came from. The shop smelled old and but had a cozy feeling to it. Darien looked for someone who worked there that could help him. Not seeing anybody, he decided to take a look around.
"Excuse me, can I help you?"
Startled, Darien turned around, expecting to find an old lady, but found a woman unlike any he had seen before. She was of average height, and had long black hair down to her waist. She looked neither young, nor old. But what was most strange about her were her eyes and a strange sort of scar on her forehead. Her eyes were the oddest color violet and her scar, looked almost like a crescent moon.
"What did you say?"
The strange lady in front of him smiled. "I asked if I could help you with anything?"
"Oh, yes, well, I hope so. You see, I was walking by and I heard the strangest music. Sort of haunting, but it was beautiful at the same time. I was thinking that maybe something in your shop made that music."
"I don't know. We have lots of antiques here that make music. But when it comes to haunting melodies, well, I'd say you should look at our snow globes. We have plenty of beautiful snow globes that play lovely music." The lady pointed Darien in the direction of the snow globes.
"Um, thank you, Miss…?"
"Luna." The lady smiled at him again.
"Miss Luna." Darien nodded. He went over to the snow globes and tried each of them. But not a single one played the tune he was looking for. And then he saw it, way up on the highest shelf, just out of his reach was an unassuming little black box. "Excuse me, Luna; do you have a stool so I can look at the one on the top shelf? The one in the black box?"
Luna's head shoot up from the paper she was reading. "Oh, that one? I'm sorry but that one doesn't work. It hasn't played any music for years." A sad look came into Luna's eyes that Darien couldn't figure out.
"Well, do you mind if I look at it?" Darien couldn't understand why, but he just had to see it. Something about it called to him.
Luna got a stool and handed the box over to Darien as gently as possible, as though it were the most precious thing in the world. "Be careful. It may not play music, but it's still the prettiest one I have."
Darien set the box on a near by table and as gently as he could, lifted the lid inch by inch till the treasure inside was reveled. What he saw amazed him. Before him was a snow globe of extreme beauty. The pedestal was made of luminescent pearl with silver designs. The designs were so intricate they looked otherworldly. But the pedestal wasn't what drew the eye. It was the figurine inside that made Darien catch his breath. Inside was a young girl with glorious long platinum blond hair blowing about her. What was strange about her hair was the style it was in, two balls with hair streaming from them like golden waterfalls. But it was beautiful. Her dress was a shimmering white and it too looked like it was moved by wind. She stood on a diamond in a pose that seemed as if she were facing incredible pain and heartache. Her eyes, enchanting blue, where turned away, perhaps trying to deny the glass that surrounded her. When shaken, cherry blossoms danced around her.
Darien turned the globe upside down looking for the key that would have started the music. Finding none, he looked to Luna.
"It's right here." Pointing it out, Luna sighed, "It had about taken me forever to find it. It was so well hidden, I thought that perhaps it didn't play music."
Hidden within the silver design was a knob that had to be pulled out, and then turned. It was really genius craftsmanship. Darien pulled out the knob and turned it. To the surprise of two people, music played. It was the same melody Darien had heard outside.
"Unbelievable! It hasn't worked in years. I could have sworn it was broken. But listen, oh how I've missed that music."
"It's," Darien started, completely shocked. "It's the melody I heard outside, the one I was searching for."
Luna eyed him carefully. She took every aspect of him in, from his pressed business suit, to his hair that kept falling into his eyes, and up to his gorgeous looks. Last she looked into his eyes. They were a midnight blue, deep as the ocean and very magnetic.
"What do you mean? How could you have heard this music?"
Darien shook his head, not believing it himself. "I don't know, I just did. It sounds strange to me too, but I'm not lying."
"Maybe it's a sign that you should buy it?" Luna shrugged.
Darien looked again at the young woman in the globe. 'So beautiful.'
"How much is it?" Darien really couldn't care about the price; he just knew he had to have it.
"$4000. That's real sliver and pearl. And the diamond she stands on is real. I'm practically giving it away. But, because it played for you, well, why don't I do just that?"
Darien just stared at the woman in disbelief. "Are you joking? Really, because I could pay you double what you had first said."
Luna just smiled at him again. "I mean it. Besides, I have a feeling the snow globe called to you. Why else would you have heard the music outside, or have been able to make her work again? No, I want you to have it as a gift for allowing me to hear her lovely melody again."
"Can you tell me the history of this piece?"
"She's old, centuries in fact. I don't know where it was made or when. Story has it that the young woman inside is a princess who was trapped there by an evil sorceress. The song that plays is the song of the princess singing out to the one who might save her. Rather romantic I think."
'A princess huh? Why would your song play for me?' "Yes, well romantic history or not, I must have this piece."
"Though you do not seem to be the type to have a snow globe such as this in your possession…" Luna started to say.
"And normally I'm not."
Luna smiled, "I do believe you will take good care of the Princess here."
So Luna carefully covered the snow globe in its velvet lined lid and handed it over do Darien. "If you ever need anything else, just come back anytime. Have a nice day Mr. Darien Chiba. I hope to see you again some time."
With a wave Darien walked out of the store and was two blocks away before a realized that he had never told Luna his name.
Darien made it to work at 8:15. In the lobby, his grandfather was waiting for him with a look of impatience on his face. "You're late."
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry." Darien said, knowing there was no excuses his grandfather would accept.
"Well, you were lucky this time. The Mizumo Merger has been postponed for later this afternoon. Their representatives called earlier this morning." Isamu Chiba smiled slightly at his grandson's sigh of relief. "Next time, Darien, don't let Andrew take your car."
Darien nodded his head and followed his grandfather in the elevator. "Its no wonder you're late; going shopping takes a lot of time." Isamu pointed to the box under Darien's arm. "Is it a gift for your grandmother?"
"No, it's something for myself. I was passing by an antique shop today when I heard some music. I went in and bought the source of the melody."
Isamu lifted an eyebrow. "Source 'eh? Well, what exactly is this "source"?"
"Just something I had to have."
The ding of the elevator signaled it's stop at the 119th floor, and the two men stepped out. Each had a commanding air about them. One with silver hair that had streaks of black in it, the other with jet-black hair; both had the bluest eyes that seemed to see through people straight to their hearts. They were undoubtedly the leaders of the Chiba Company.
"Good morning, Mr. Chiba. Glad to see you here today, I thought you were sick." Darien's secretary said while handing him his mail.
"Thank you, Lita. I'm not sick, just running late." Darien said while looking through his mail. Quickly locating a trash can, he threw all but one envelope away. "Lita, next time I get junk mail, you can just throw it away for me. I promise I won't get mad."
Lita smiled, knowing just what the "junk mail" was he was talking about. "Aw, and you'd have me break those poor girls' hearts. Some of them even deliver it themselves. And I think I could detect a hint of perfume off one of them."
Darien groaned and Lita's smile got even bigger. "Just do it for me please, Lita."
"Of course. I'll take care of your "Junk mail", Mr. Chiba."
"Thanks."
With one last wave at Lita, Darien went to his office. Sitting down in his big leather chair, Darien looked at the one letter he had saved. "I wonder what my dear sister Raye is up to?" Upon opening the letter, a picture fell out the envelope and Darien looked at it before reading. It was a picture of his sister Raye and her boyfriend Chad in what looked like Hawaii. Darien thought about how happy they looked and decided to read the letter.
Dear Darien,
How are you doing big bro? Working like a madman no doubt. When are you going take my advice and go on a vacation? You will work yourself to death one of these days! But that's not what I'm writing you about. Look at the picture in your hand; notice anything different?
Darien did as he was told and studied the photograph. At first he couldn't see anything but then, upon closer examination, he saw it. On the ring finger of his sister's left hand was a beautiful diamond ring. Shocked, Darien continued to read the letter.
Shocked aren't you? Ha ha, I could just see your face right now. Boy how I wish I were really there to see it. You probably have a lot of questions. Well first off, yes it's an engagement ring and no, we haven't set the date yet. Secondly, when I went on this trip with Chad, I had no clue he would pop the question. It was so romantic the way he did it. Oh I'm sure you don't want the gushy details, romance was never really a part of your life. But I just want you to know that I'm completely happy and that I'll be home soon. Don't tell Gramps yet, I want to surprise him when I get there. I know he's always been the old romantic type. Can't wait to see you again Dare. Until then, loosen up and find someone to make you just as happy as I am. You deserve true love. Even if you don't believe in it, I do. I found it, so that means that you can also. Don't give up! See you in 2 weeks!
Love,
Raye
Darien put the letter down and smiled to himself. 'So Raye has gotten herself engaged. Gramps will be so surprised when he finds out. I really wish she would give up trying to make me fall in love.' For some reason, the thought of his sister's happiness made Darien remember the snow globe. Pulling the box over to himself, Darien opened the lid and lifted the snow globe out.
"Ah, so this is the 'Source' you just had to buy this morning." A loud voice startled Darien as he put the snow globe down. Seeing who it was, Darien quickly hid the letter.
"Yeah. Beautiful isn't it?"
Isamu closed the door behind him and sat down in a chair in front of Darien's desk. Leaning forward to peer at the object, Isamu's eyes lit up. "She most certainly is. I've never seen one with such detail or craftsmanship. Where did you get it?"
Darien shrugged. "This antique store called Luna's Antiques. I had never seen it before or heard of it, but she has some very nice merchandise."
"And you said it plays music? Well where's the key?"
Smiling, Darien showed his grandfather the unique way the snow globe worked. Pulling out the key and turning it, he brought forth a look of awe from Isamu as the music started to play.
It's lovely melody filled the air as the cherry blossoms swirled around the young woman inside. Very slowly the girl on the diamond started to turn and the music rose from snow globe and moved out the door to the hall beyond. People started to gather around Darien's door, enchanted by the sound. As the music faded away, the girl stopped turning and soon it was done.
"Incredible. I've never heard such beautiful music. I just might have to go to this Luna's Antique shop myself. Your Grandmother would just love to have something like this for her birthday." Isamu's eyes twinkled as he thought of his wife.
"I have no doubt you will find something wonderful for her. By the way, Raye will be returning from her trip in 2 weeks. So why don't we have a little get together and celebrate Grandmother's birthday then?" Darien started to put the snow globe back in the box but thought better of it and left it out on his desk instead.
"Two weeks? That's a good idea, Darien. We would just love to have you all over to celebrate then. I'm sure Cara won't mind waiting an extra week for her party."
"Knowing Grandma, she'll probably whine at first but when she finds out she's only waiting for Raye's return, she'll get over it. She'll probably use the time to make the party even bigger!" Darien grinned as his grandfather winced at the idea of how much money his wife would be spending. "I don't know why you wince at that. You know she'll spend more money each year and it's not like she's going to spend all your money. That would be impossible. Besides, no matter how much she spends on herself, she'll always spend more on you."
"How I love that woman! By the way, when are you going to find a Mrs. Darien Chiba? I'm getting old and I want to live to see great-grandbabies!"
Darien raised a dismissive hand. "Look to Raye in that area, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to comply with those wishes in about another year or two."
Isamu looked at his grandson with a speculative look in his eyes. "Do you know something I don't, Darien? Are you holding something back from me?"
Darien gulped and wondered if he had said too much. "No more than you do, Grandfather. All I know is that Chad and her are very much in love and may very well get married someday."
"As they should! When young people are in love, they shouldn't wait too long to settle down. I'm just surprised Chad hasn't popped the question yet. Anyways, I've got some papers to look over as I'm sure you do too so I'll just leave you to them." Isamu took one last look at the snow globe before heading to the door. "I'll give you $20,000 for it."
Darien shook his head and laid a protective hand over the globe. "Sorry but I'm going to keep this one."
"Rats, looks like I'll just have to go to that antique shop of yours and get my own."
"Don't act so put out, you love to shop almost as much as Grandmother if not more."
Isamu grinned. "True, just don't tell your grandmother. She'd just love to drag me from shop to shop even more if she knew I secretly liked it. See you at the meeting."
Darien nodded before turning his attention back to the task at hand. He had already gotten all his paperwork in order last night in preparation for today. Yet he felt it would be best to go over a few key notes in his head before the actual meeting took place. The whole idea of a merger with Mizumo Medical Technologies was solely his brain child. For a long time his eyes had been set upon Kenji Mizumo's company. He had studied the progress the company had made over the last thirty years and was very much impressed. The recent addition of a machine that could give 3-D views of major organs was ground breaking. Plus the fact that low income families could be tested by this machine for free was something Darien found equally important. Good ethics was just as vital as financial success in Darien's mind.
Chiba Pharmaceuticals and Mizumo Medical Technologies could be great together. And thankfully his grandfather and the Board had agreed with him and let him be in charge of setting up the meeting between the two powerhouses of the medical market. It had been Darien's honest desire to come up with solutions to the medical problems of the world that had Kenji Mizumo willing to listen to anything Darien had to say. Hopefully if everything went according to plan, both parties would come out of today's meeting happy and could work together towards a common goal.
After becoming immersed in the notes before him, Darien looked up at the clock in time to realize the meeting would be starting in twenty minutes. Quickly pushing back his chair and gathering his papers, Darien cast one last quick glance at the snow globe on his desk. If he wasn't mistaken, it would seem that the figure of the Princess inside had moved somehow. Not by much, just a slight raising of her head. Scratching his cheek in confusion, Darien just shrugged and walked out of his office. Clearly it was a trick of the light. Figurines in snow globes don't move. Although the spinning while the music played this last time was a nice surprise, it was nothing remarkable. Yes, it must have been just a trick of the light.
A/N: Well? A good revision? I hope so. Sorry this has taken so long to get out. I have been working 40 hours a week and don't get a lot of free time when I get home. Anyhow, on to chapter two! And boy oh boy what a chapter it will be!