Disclaimer: Nope

Notes: And so I decided to give you all a Christmas present this year. Or whatever holiday it is that you celebrate. Happy Christmahanakwanzica. Or however you spell that. I'm not even going to try.

Anyway, I've messed around with the ages in here. Nothing that will make you upset or anything, trust me. I just had to alter some age differences to make this work.

My notes file for this fic... is huge. Hell-this FIC is huge. It's almost finished, in fact. And... for those of you who I sort of know personally and who I talk to, that other thing, it's almost finished, too. Sigh. It's a wonder I have time to fit school, friends, and fic in on my schedule.

Rated for language and violence, thought if the adult content goes up, I'll change the rating to M, like I did in my other fic. But for now it'll just be T, and I don't think it'll get too steamy, at least not for a while. We'll see. I hope you all got what you wanted for the holidays. I know I certainly did, and I would be even happier if you liked this. So go ahead and read, and review as a Christmas present to me!

One last thing; this takes place in the 13th century, sort of around when Robin Hood was supposed to be alive, and the fic is stationed somewhere in Europe. But don't get me wrong, there's no Robin Hood or anything in here, haha. Just giving you a sense of the time period. That's all for now!

Enjoy.

Posted 12/25/06

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Under the Full Moon

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Summary: A young woman cursed seven years ago was forced into a lonely life of isolation, losing all that she had once held dear. But after a chance meeting in the moonlight, her sad story becomes an enchanted tale of romance. Seiya/Usagi.

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Chapter One: Cursed

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It's tough being a princess.

You always have to act proper and be polite, you have to go to balls and parties and to all sorts of places you'd much rather not go to. You're forced to be with people you don't exactly care for, forced to 'enjoy' their 'splendid' company. You have to wear uncomfortable clothes and look pretty for as long as people can see you.

Fortunately, Usagi was not a princess.

She was, however, the princess' best friend.

Princess Minako was the one who had to put up with the daily torture, not Usagi. For this, she was thankful. Even if she did envy her best friend just a little. What girl wouldn't?

Usagi Tsukino was a cheery girl of thirteen, and part of the middle class. Naturally, she enjoyed being subject to the royal lifestyle sometimes. She didn't want to be a princess, no. Most certainly not! But it was fun to play dress up with Minako's clothes and pretend she was a princess every once in a while.

As they got older, Minako and Usagi saw less and less of each other-mainly because of Minako's growing list of responsibilities. But whenever there was time, they were together. Whenever there was time, they were inseparable.

This was not something that Minako's parents liked. But they knew that Usagi was a genuine friend to Minako with no hidden motives. Thus, they had eventually come to love the girl-it was hard not to. The king and queen now looked at Usagi as if she were their own child, and she was as much of a sister to Minako as any biological one could be.

Minako's parents became even more like Usagi's when tragedy struck her family. When Usagi was only ten years old, her mother fell ill. She was sick for almost an entire year before her body could no longer put up the fight to combat the disease, and she passed away gently in her sleep.

Usagi was nothing less than devastated. She had loved her mother so much; they had shared a strong bond that Usagi had never imagined would break. Usagi's father was a kind man, but hadn't shared the same connection as Usagi had with her mother.

But as the years passed, their relationship changed. They learned to rely upon one another, and became very close. Nothing would ever take the pain away from the loss of her mother, but Usagi's father and Minako helped her get through it.

And so, Usagi lived with her father in a decent house not too far from the castle in which her best friend lived. It was, in fact, just outside the castle grounds. Usagi had become rather well-known throughout the castle staff as Minako's other half, and was allowed to come and go as she pleased. It really was perfect for Usagi; she could go about the castle all she wanted and yet have no responsibilities like any royalty would. She had found family within the castle, making up a little for what she didn't really have.

Usagi was happy that she was allowed inside the castle gates without question, as entry was getting more and more difficult. Security had been upped due to recent attempts on the life of a certain girl.

People had been trying to kill Minako.

It was simple: the queen was no longer able to have children, and Minako was the only heir to the throne. If she were to be eliminated, the throne would be up for grabs after the death of its current rulers. Thus, the little princess had been subject to a very tight guard and limited activities as of late. Even her time with Usagi was cut short to keep the amount of time she spent outside to a minimum. Now was one of the times she was allowed to be outside.

It was October twentieth, in the year 1236.

It would be Minako's fourteenth birthday in two days, and she and Usagi were together. There was going to be a large (yet with a tight guest list) party to celebrate. But when that time rolled around, the princess would be swamped with duties to her guests. And so, the two were enjoying their brief time togther this morning before the ball, in just a couple of nights. Minako only had this time to do what she wanted, which was to be with Usagi.

One common interest the two girls shared was their love for horses. They would frequently visit the ones in the royal stables, and on rare occasions ride them together. Currently, Usagi and Minako were giving their attention to a pretty grey stallion, which Minako was particularly fond of. Both girls knew all of the horses' names, even without looking at the ones written on signs for each horse's stable.

"Usagi, I'm really sorry your father couldn't be around so that you could come to my party with someone..." Usagi shrugged.

"I'll be fine by myself. And It's not like you won't ever have a birthday again, Minako. And there's always my birthday, too! Even though I won't be having a ball..."

"You don't strike me as the ball type, Usa." Usagi only grinned.

"Nah, maybe not! I wouldn't fit in at one anyway." The girls giggled together as they stroked the horse's side. "But I promise that we'll do something, just the two of us, when it's my birthday! It'll be so much fun!"

"Oh, I can't wait! And my own birthday hasn't even happened yet!"

"It isn't going to happen, princess."

The two girls jumped in unison and whirled around to face the new, deeper female voice. "Because what would a party be without the guest of honor?" said she, a tall woman with an evil glint in her eye.

"Wh-who are you?" Usagi said weakly.

"My name is Beryl, but you need not remember it-or at least not you, princess," she said, turning to Minako. "You will have no use for names."

"What are you talking about?" the princess popped in. "Or better yet, why are you here? And how?" she demanded like the royalty she was.

"More things you don't need to know. What you do need to know... hmm, I can't really think of anything." Usagi glared at her, immediately disliking the woman. "Might as well get to it, then."

"I think you should leave," Usagi said warily.

"Not until I've done what I came to do. You see, I want this kingdom. And to get it, I have to get rid of you," she said pointing at Minako, who gasped in fright and stepped back.

"You leave Minako alone!" Usagi shouted, stepping in front of her best friend.

"Shut up, you little brat!" With a simple wave of Beryl's hand, Usagi was thrown through the air and into a nearby tree, her pained scream cut short with the collision. Minako shrieked and made to run to her loyal friend, but suddenly froze. "Now, princess, I have no desire to kill you..." Beryl advanced upon Minako, who was looking at the fallen Usagi with wide eyes.

"Minako, get away from her!" Usagi cried, trying to stand.

"Shut up, you!" With another wave, Usagi was sent flying through the air again and crashed into the ground a few feet next to her friend. Beryl then directed her hand to Minako, who seemed to still be totally frozen. "You won't be going anywhere, now."

"You... you witch! What did you do to her?" Usagi shrieked, her voice dripping with hatred.

"Nothing compared to what I'm about to do..." She smiled evilly. "Now I don't like killing, nor am I able to perform such spells yet, so I've decided to take a different approach. I see that you like these animals very much..." Beryl nodded her head in the direction of the disturbed horses. "So, instead of death..." Something sparkled in Beryl's eyes as she lifted her hands and pointed them at Minako.

"Minako, run!" When Minako did no such thing, Usagi feebly stood, wobbling the entire way up. She slowly stumbled to her friend, getting closer and closer...

"NO!"

Usagi ran. It was fifteen feet or so between Minako and herself, but she covered the distance in a flash. As the beams of light erupted from Beryl's outstretched palms, Usagi dove in front of her best friend, shielding her from whatever the wicked woman was trying to harm her with. As this all happened, time slowed down. The magic approached young Usagi as Minako broke from her trance and screamed out, and Beryl's eyes opened wide in shock. What had that little girl done?

"USAGI!" shrieked Minako as the light struck her friend hard, knocking them both down to the ground. She didn't notice Beryl fleeing at the sounds of approaching guards, attracted by Minako's screams. Usagi's eyes were closed as she lay unconscious next to her best friend. "USAGI! USAGI!" Minako crawled over to the still girl and held her in her arms, shaking her.

But Usagi did not open her eyes. Minako started to cry.

"Usagi! Usagi, wake up! USAGI!"

She was not aware of the many men surrounding them, only focused on her friend's comatose state.

"Usagi!"

She felt them pulling her away.

"No! Usagi!"

The men pried Minako from her friend and she saw a familiar one of them pick Usagi up.

"Princess, we have to get you inside the castle. Come, now, let's go." Minako struggled in the guard's grip to get to her friend.

"NO! Let me go! Usagi!"

"She's being taken care of, don't worry. Now we have to get inside!"

"I want to be with Usagi! Let me go!"

"Princess, this is for your own safety. Your friend will be attended to by our doctors immediately. Right now you have to come inside!"

"Then let me go with her!" Minako squirmed around even more.

"I can't, princess. I'm sorry, but I'm supposed to-"

"I don't care!" Minako then violently twisted her body and just barely broke free of the guard's hold on her. She sprinted towards the people taking Usagi away. But she didn't get far, as soon she was once again trapped within one of her guard's arms.

"Princess, please," he started sympathetically, "under such conditions we are ordered to bring you to a safe place within the castle. You can see her soon."

"I want to stay with her! Usagi!" she continued to cry out to her friend in the distance.

"I'm sorry..." he said sadly as he continued to drag the struggling and crying girl away. Minako could not stop the growing emotions inside of her; worry and anxiety and confusion combined, feeling like her heart would burst.

And yet she could do nothing. The young princess was completely helpless as she was unceremoniously taken away from the scene, tears streaming down her pretty face the whole way. Minako futilely stretched out a hand and reached for her friend as far as she could, but to no avail. The other girl was almost out of sight, both being carried into different parts of the castle.

As Minako watched her friend disappearing from view, still as death, she felt something break.

"USAAGIIIIIII!"

It was her heart.

- - -

The unconscious girl was in the exact opposite state of Minako. Unmoving, a silent Usagi lay cradled in the arms of a frantic guard. She was ghostly pale, her fair skin lacking any pigment at all. Usagi had naturally, and beautiful, fair skin-but this was different. Her flesh was so white it matched the color of the clouds, and was nothing less than icy to the touch.

"Where is the doctor?" The young, sandy-haired man shouted to a rather petite nurse, panicking upon the discovery that the doctor was out.

"I-I don't know! Doctor Meioh was just-"

"I'm right here, Motoki," popped in a deep, but feminine voice. "What are you shouting abou-my God!" The tall woman with dark skin rushed to the ill girl being held, worry in her eyes. "What in the world..."

"Setsuna, can you help her?" he said quickly. "She's freezing! Every second she grows colder, and we can't get her to wake up! Please-"

"Follow me," she responded curtly. The doctor turned on her heel, Motoki right behind her. She led him to a small room that contained a small bed in the corner, and a shelf covered with various medical supplies.

"Put her on the bed." Motoki quickly obeyed as the doctor began to look through bottles on the shelf. "Tell me what happened, Motoki." He spoke very quickly

"I have no idea, none of us do! We heard a scream coming from the stables, one from the princess. We rushed there, and found Usagi like this on the ground and Minako in both shock and hysterics. Tell me, Setsuna, do you know what's happened to her?"

Setsuna abandoned her search through the bottles and went to the bedside. Frowning when feeling the girl's temperature on Usagi's forehead, her concern grew.

"Motoki, I need you to call for my nurses-they're on their lunch break in the garden. Then I need you to tell one of them to get blankets, lots of them. Go." He nodded and exited the room as she poked her head out of the door. "Mamoru!" She looked around, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Where is that boy? I can never find him when I need him!" she grumbled under her breath. "MAMORU!"

After a moment, a young, black-haired boy skidded around the corner. He was very disheveled, obviously having run to the scene.

"I'm here!" his high voice said proudly, taking pride in his hasty arrival.

"Mamoru, I need you to get a large bucket of water and bring it here as fast as you can, okay?" she said quickly, rushing about the room.

"Sure!" he replied with a grin. "But why-"

"Just do it!"

The young assistant and errand-runner was a little taken aback by the usual calm woman's outburst, but quickly recovered and dashed off. He accidentally ran into someone on his way, another boy a few years older than him.

"Ah!" Mamoru exclaimed, "Sorry Jackson!" The other boy merely shrugged and peered into the room. Shock hit him when he saw his blonde friend lying there, unconscious, and looking like she was dead. His voice was lost.

Rolling her eyes, Setsuna returned to Usagi's side.

She gently checked the young girl over, briefly feeling for any injuries. When she found no immediate ones, she hastily began to disrobe the girl. After holding Usagi upright, Setsuna pulled the dress over the girl's head and carelessly let it fall to the floor. Jackson, with a bit of a blush, ducked around to the other side of the door and out of sight. As soon as Setsuna's gaze fell upon Usagi's bare chest, her eyes went wide and she drew in a sharp breath.

Right at the center of the girl's chest, just above what would soon be real breasts, was a red mark. It appeared as if Usagi had been severely burned below her collarbone, in the shape of a star.

"My God..."

She went to touch it lightly with her fingers, just barely extending her hand to the mark. But she quickly snatched her hand away, recoiling when her own skin was nearly singed. The mark was searing hot, and would no doubt leave something on the skin it currently laid upon.

But Setsuna was confused. How could the child be so cold, yet have a blazing star on her chest? And yet with all the physical discomfort and pain her body was inflicted with, the girl remained unconscious.

"I'm back! What do you want me to do with this waaaaah..." Mamoru, upon just entering, faltered at the sight in the room. It wasn't really the fact that there was a certain girl in the room, or that she was unconscious, or that her skin was such a strange color, or that there was an odd mark on her chest, that made him almost drop the full bucket of water in his small hands. It was the fact that the girl was almost completely naked that made his cheeks ablaze and his eyes squinch shut.

And it didn't help that he had a bit of a crush on her. Well, a little more than a bit.

"Mamoru, stop that! This isn't the time to be embarrassed! Bring that here, now!"

The flustered boy complied, waddling over to the doctor with the heavy bucket. Setsuna immediately snatched it from his hands and poured a decent amount right onto the girl's chest.

There was a loud sizzling noise to accompany the red mark's change. It shrunk to half its original size, only one inch across and two inches tall. The burn faded quickly into a scar as white as Usagi's skin, marring her previously smooth flesh. It was a smooth scar itself, but nonetheless remained a visible mark upon the girl.

This eased Setsuna's nerves a little, though she was still greatly worried. Before she could put Usagi's dress back on to bring the girl more warmth and spare Mamoru further embarrassment, Motoki and three nurses barged into the room. Naturally, the four paused upon viewing the scene.

"Motoki, blankets! All of them!" He was quickly snapped back to reality, and hastily covered the girl he considered his little sister with the fabrics.

But as soon as he had entered the room, Motoki was kicked out.

"Mamoru, Motoki, out!" They exited. "Now, I need smelling salts, hot water and a cloth for her head, and something to drink when she wakes up for warmth and energy!"

There was much bustling about the room as the two men watched from outside. Motoki's height was greater than the boy's, though not by much. He was tall at eighteen, just over six feet tall. Mamoru, too, was tall for his age.

At fifteen, the boy was only a few inches shorter than the man next to him. However, Mamoru had a skinny, almost lanky build compared to Motoki's more adult body. Motoki often teased him about the difference in build, greatly irritating his younger friend at times. Sometimes he would remind Mamoru that in a few years he would fill out-but only when the boy seemed depressed about the issue.

Despite the three years between them, the two were best friends. When Motoki wasn't on duty, he was either seen with Mamoru or Minako and Usagi. He spent more time with Mamoru than with the girls, but still enjoyed the blondes' company. Minako was his cousin, in fact, and Usagi closer to him as a sister than even a real sister might be. As an only child, Motoki looked to the two girls for that specific, family relationship.

Mamoru, also an only child, was less social than his best friend. He had very few friends-though they were close and made up for the fact that he did not have many. His only other friends, four other males, were introduced to him by Motoki. Mamoru was lucky, in a way. Had he not befriended Motoki, he would have been totally alone. And the only reason the younger boy had befriended him was because of the way they had met.

It was right after Mamoru's mother and father had died. Mamoru and his family had been out one day when they were attacked by bandits. Severely injured, bleeding to death and unable to move, Mamoru was barely alive when Motoki found him. Being near to the castle, Motoki had rushed the dying boy there for help. He had been visiting (as he was the nephew to the king and queen, and cousin to Minako), as well as training for combat.

And so, the two somehow became friends and their relationship deepened with time. Their friendship rivaled that of Usagi and Minako's, though Mamoru hadn't gotten to know either of the girls very well. While the boy was quite wealthy, inheriting all of his parent's fortune, he had opted to live in the castle as an assistant when the king had offered. Once part of a happy and rich family, he was now living like a person of the middle class with the wealth of the upper-class.

Now, the two were peering into the frantic room. Motoki was bordering on hysterical at the sight of the nearly-lifeless Usagi and the failed attempts of the medics to cure her of her mysterious ailment, while Mamoru merely watched with confusion. The boy was standing in front of Motoki, as he wouldn't be able to see past the older man's height through the narrow doorway. The boy who Mamoru had run into before stood behind him, tall enough to see over the younger boy's head.

He, Jackson, looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, though was only sixteen. The boy had messy, medium-length dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He looked into the room with as much interest as Motoki and Mamoru.

"Usagi!" Motoki's face lit up when he saw the frail girl's eyes flutter open. He almost shoved Mamoru in his attempt to get into the room, and the young boy teetered on his feet. Jackson managed to grab him before he hit the floor, and sighed. Mamoru was a rather awkward boy, and Jackson hope he'd grow up differently. They were sort of friends, but more like acquaintances. Mamoru scowled at his older, blonde friend for nearly tossing him aside for the girl, and opted to stand outside where he was.

The nurses backed away as Motoki knelt down to the bed, next to the standing doctor. He put a hand to her pale cheek affectionately, smiling with relief.

But as quickly as his wide grin had formed, it faded away. He was unable to speak before Usagi began to shiver violently, her eyes snapping shut and her arms wrapping around herself. Alarmed, Motoki leaned in closer to her and used his other hand to feel her forehead; he found it to be freezing cold. She was like a block of ice! Setsuna knelt next to him with a furrowed brow from the girl's state.

"Usagi! Come on, hang in there. You have to tell me what's wrong. Tell me what happened, Usagi," he pleaded. Usagi tried her hardest to reply, her words coming softly and quietly from her pale lips.

"Th-there was... a woman, t-tr-tried to.. c-curse... Minako... hit m-me inst-stead... th-then I saw... I saw-" Usagi's words stopped abruptly, and with a cry of pain, when a pain seized her in the chest. She sat up quickly, clutching at her heart. Eyes squinched shut, a few tears fell down her face.

"Curse?" said Setsuna, astonished.

Usagi only cringed as the pain grew. She had no idea what it was, but she knew that it hurt. A lot. And she wanted it to stop. She wanted to get warm, too. She felt so... vulnerable, and she was scared.

"Usagi!" said Motoki, more alarmed than ever. She turned to look at him with half-lidded eyes.

"M-Motoki... help me! I'm... so cold, and... it hurts!" She couldn't help but cry, and Motoki felt like he could cry, too. Usagi, basically his little sister, was in serious trouble-and he didn't know what to do.

He took her into his arms, trying to provide both comfort and warmth for the crying, shuddering girl. Usagi immediately latched onto him, needing what he could give her.

"Oh God, Usagi. I'm so sorry. Don't worry, everything will be fine. We can fix this! We can get through it together, you'll see..."

Setsuna's worried face turned to the door, away from the troubled man and crying girl.

"Mamoru," she said after a pause, "go get the princess, and bring her here, quickly." Mamoru frowned, not liking to be ordered around in such a way. But it was what he did, and he obeyed-but not without another scowl and a nudge from Jackson.

Strangely, Usagi began to feel a little warmer and the tightness in her chest lessened. She was still shivering, but not violently and the pain in her chest was being reduced to a strong ache. The longer she stayed in her almost-brother's embrace, the more the cold and pain went away.

"MOVE!" called a high voice from outside of the room. Suddenly, a blur of yellow flew through the doorway. "USAGI!"

A frantic and heavy-breathing Minako crouched next to her cousin, and pried him away from Usagi just a little. Motoki allowed the princess to turn the girl in his arms to face her, but refused to let go entirely.

"Usagi, are you okay?! You just... fell! It was like you were dead!" Tears flowed down Minako's face as she grabbed the hands of her best friend and held them tightly.

When Usagi's crying friend grasped her hands, she felt even warmer. Her chest didn't hurt much anymore-in fact, it had been reduced now to a dull ache. Motoki, understanding the bond between the two girls being greater than his with Usagi, backed off a little.

As soon as Usagi was released, Minako lunged and grabbed her in a tight hug.

"I thought you were dead, Usagi! I..." Minako took in a deep breath as she pulled back and looked into Usagi's eyes angrily. "Why? Why did you do that? WHY? You almost died! Stupid, you're so stupid! Usagi, you idiot! What if you had died? What if you DIED?" Minako shook Usagi shoulders as she yelled at her, tears falling more than ever. Usagi could only manage a wobbly smile as her own eyes filled with tears.

"Then it would have been in your protection, silly. I can't have my best friend, and the princess, dying on me," Usagi replied sincerely.

- - -

Seeing as there were no other symptoms, Usagi was let alone for the time being the next day. It was, after all, going to be the princess' birthday tomorrow. The whole castle was busy preparing the grand party in her honor.

- - -

Something, some feeling, was stirring in Usagi. Maybe she was getting sick, because she felt awfully cold in there. And there were a lot of people in that ballroom. The body heat was making some of the more active guests start to shimmer with perspiration. Usagi was standing on the side, leaning against the wall next to Motoki. he had noticed her sulking; how utterly bored she was. Basically being her older brother, he went to her and attempted to keep her company.

"Usagi, you're looking quite glum."

"Maybe," said with a pout.

"And why is that, hmm?" Usagi's pout became... pout-ier.

"Minako hasn't spoken to me at all today!" she whined childishly.

"Usagi, you know that the princess has been very busy, she'd not trying to avoid you."

"Well, she could have said something. Just one word, geez! Your cousin can be so irritating sometimes!" Usagi crossed her arms over her stomach and scoffed. Motoki held back an amused chuckle.

"I'm sure she would love to be with you, but the princess has duties and responsibilities that we don't have. Trust me, I don't think she's enjoying today as much as she should." He glanced at his cousin, who was currently dancing with her father. She was sort of smiling, though he could tell she was tired of the evening.

"Right..." Usagi trailed off, suddenly feeling a little more depressed than irritated. "I got her a present, and I want to give it to her... but she's never alone long enough." Motoki looked down at Usagi with sympathy.

"You'll get a chance, don't worry. And I'm sure that she'll just love to get a gift from you."

"I hope so... but she's got-she has so many other things. All expensive and pretty presents given by all the rich people." Usagi was feeling very low now; she couldn't compare to all the fancy tributes to the princess. Usagi's tiny token of affection paled in comparison, really. Or at least that's what she thought.

"Oh, Usagi... don't tell me that you feel undermined by these people. You're just as good as they are! In fact, I'd say you were better."

"Really?" she said with bright eyes. He could always make her feel better about herself. As small as it was, Usagi was glad to have the family she was currently bestowed with. Minako and Motoki were wonderful people, they truly were.

"Of course!" he replied with enthusiasm. The young man glanced around the room suddenly, clearly up to something.

"Motoki, what are you-"

"Hey, I have an idea. Let's get out of this place and have some fun, hmm?"

"...Really?" It wasn't often that they got to spend time together, especially as of late.

"Of course!" he confirmed with a genuine smile. "Nobody will notice, I'm sure. And I'm know that there's a lot more things to do than stand here and mope around, don't you?"

"Yeah!" Usagi chirped, wanting to jump up and down. He nodded and discreetly gestured for her to follow him.

The two very smoothly slipped out of the grand room, and crept down the hall with smiles on their faces.

"Well, Usagi, I don't know about you... but I could really use some food. None of that fancy stuff out there, I'm talking about real food."

"What do you mean?" Usagi asked with curiosity.

"I mean that, instead of that colorful cake, I'd like some homemade... warm, fresh apple pie, mmm..." Usagi's eyes bugged out and she gaped at him.

"We can have that? Tell me where!" Usagi. Loved. Apple pie.

"Meh, I saw some being made in the kitchen just before I left to come to the party," Motoki replied casually. "But I think that Mamoru and Jackson may have gotten there first. We'll just have to see, now won't we?"

"Them... get there first?" she asked with horror, before snatching his hand and dashing down the hall. "HURRY!"

- - -

"Motoki, this was such a great idea!" Usagi chirped, on her fourth piece of pie. Motoki was shocked. How could such a tiny girl fit all that food into her stomach? It was impossible!

Mamoru and Jackson were both staring at the girl, quite appalled. She had eaten more than they had, and they ate a lot. It was amazing, what that girl could so with food. She was still happily chowing down on the dessert.

But then, Motoki noticed something wrong with Usagi.

"Hey, are you cold? You're shivering, Usagi."

"Well... sort of." She had been freezing, but the pie had helped a little.

"I'd give you my coat, but I left it in my room," he said regrettably. "And it's so warm in here..." Motoki frowned, and reached out a hand to Usagi's forehead.

"I'm not sick!" she whined. And she wasn't... at least not with a fever-then her head would feel hot.

"...Usagi, you're really cold." The girl's health was quite out of wack this week. "Maybe I should go get you something to keep you warm, this is just a little strange."

"You can have my jacket, Usagi," a meek voice said from behind her. She turned around to see a rather... bashful boy holding out the garment.

"Oh. Thanks, Mamoru!" she replied cheerfully, taking the jacket from Mamoru's extended hand. If it wasn't so warm in there to them, Usagi could've sworn she saw him blush. But she didn't see Motoki's devious grin sent in Mamoru's direction as she went back to her pie, the black-haired boy taking his seat two chairs down from her again. Jackson was looking at Mamoru suspiciously, sitting directly to Usagi's right. It wasn't that Jackson disliked Mamoru, but there was something that made him wary towards the younger male. Usagi didn't know this, but the boy with brown hair felt oddly protective of her, though he certainly didn't like her that way. While he didn't feel brotherly towards her like Motoki, he didn't have any feelings for her. There was just something that made him want to keep an eye out for her, and Mamoru only strengthened the urge.

As Usagi put on the jacket, she frowned. This was strange...

She felt even colder.

Just for a test, Usagi removed it a little, and gasped.

It was frigid!

Good God! She must have gotten colder in the seconds that she'd had the jacket on! Usagi hastily put it back around her shoulders, and the three males looked at her strangely.

"Usagi," Motoki asked with concern, leaning closer to her, "are you feeling all right?"

No, she wasn't.

"H-hey... are you s-sure you're all warm in here?" The shivering was returning. She didn't dare to remove the jacket again, for fear her skin would burn from an invisible ice. Motoki reached out and cupped her face with his hands, and his eyes opened wide.

"Usagi, you're freezing!" It was even worse now! "This is just like yesterday!" There was panic in his voice, and he frantically looked for a solution. There! The fires in the kitchen were just yards away.

"Come here, Usagi. Let's get you closer to the fire." She hopped off her chair and let Motoki lead her across the kitchen, a comforting hand on her back. His gaze wandered to the night sky out a nearby window, to the large moon in the sky. For a reason unknown to him, he glared at it. When he turned back to the still-shivering girl before him, Motoki gently brushed her hair out of her face. But he found her skin to be icy cold, having worsened even more within the past few seconds.

"Oh, no. This is not good." He turned back to the two boys with worry on his face. "I need you two to do me a favor," he said quickly, not giving them a chance to accept or decline his request, "go find Doctor Meioh, and do it fast. Tell her where we are." The two other boys looked at each other, then ran off. Usagi was their friend, too.

A few minutes had passed, and neither of the boys were back yet. Motoki had taken the girl into his arms and tried to keep her warmer with his body heat, though the fire and body heat was beginning to make him perspire. But hey, if it kept Usagi from being freezing, he could take the heat.

"Oh, there you are!" shouted an exasperated voice. "I've been looking everywhere for y-oh my God, Usagi?"

Jadeite rushed over to the two, overcome with concern. Usagi had become just like she was the day before, shaking violently and her teeth chattering.

"What-oh, God. What happened, Motoki?"

"No idea. But it's just like she was before, minus the burning-wait... Usagi, that thing isn't hot, is it?" She shook her head. "Well at least we have that."

"Is she sick?"

"I don't think so. I sent Mamoru and Jackson to find Setsuna, but they haven't come back yet, so-"

"Again? Oh, dear. Let me see her!" Right on cue, the doctor came rushing into the kitchen. Motoki moved away just a little, trying to keep her a little warm with himself while still letting Setsuna have a look. She put a hand to Usagi's head, like Motoki had done, and bit her lip.

"I really haven't seen anything like this before," she said quietly.

"What should we do?" Motoki asked.

"I... don't know. I actually do not know what to do," she admitted with fright. She loved the dear child, and was terrified that she couldn't help Usagi. "Oh my, this is bad. Usagi, you hang in there. I'll figure something out." Usagi nodded, cringing when she felt a pain seize her chest, and she doubled over with a cry.

"Usagi!" Motoki yelled as she felt to the floor, screaming. The agony was back-it was ripping out her heart, tearing apart her insides... and she screamed bloody murder.

"AAAAHHH!"

"AAAAHHH!"

Usagi's eyes shot open and she bolted upright, covered in sweat from the nightmare. Her eyes frantically darted around, taking in her surroundings. It took a few moments for her to realize that she wasn't thirteen, and that she wasn't in the castle, and that she didn't have people with her.

She was twenty, she was in the forest, and she was alone.

Damn, she thought, I hate that dream.

How many times had she dreamt of her past right when she was cursed? Too many to count. It wasn't Minako's birthday; it was August 8th in the year 1243. Usagi shook her head in frustration, and groaned from a new headache settling in. The young woman rubbed the bridge of her nose as she drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

Had she not been so incredibly tired, Usagi might have gotten up and done something to recover from the scare. But the girl was completely exhausted; her day had been a little rough. The blond rubbed her sore shoulder, the place where she'd been knocked down by a cane that day. She'd been trying to steal a pear-just one, tiny little pear-but she got caught. And whap! Usagi got hit on her left shoulder by some old lady with a temper.

It was just one pear! Usagi scowled. She had also done a lot of running that day, more than usual. And so she sighed, plopped back down on the ground, and attempted to fall asleep. And eventually, she did. And unfortunately, her dream returned-not too far from where it had left off.

Contrary to her promise, Setsuna had not been able to help Usagi. The thirteen-year-old had to ride it out, and for nearly an hour. It was the most excruciating day of her life.

But later that night, it was even worse. And that is where Usagi's dream picked back up...

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It was the night after that of the full moon, less than an hour before midnight. Usagi was freezing, just as she had been for the past two nights. But this one was far worse. Every night, as the moon went higher into the sky, Usagi had grown cold. And as it became midnight, the pain came. It all began to subside by itself a little past midnight, but sometimes it had been subdued by other things. At one point, when both Minako and Motoki had been holding her, the pain had been dimmed a little. But right now, nothing was working.

Usagi had been, in a way, hospitalized. She was put in a guestroom bed after that night in the kitchens, and made to stay there. Now people were crowded around the young girl as she suffered, all feeling miserable watching her pain and being unable to stop it. And so Usagi lay in the bed, groaning in pain, onlookers full of sympathy.

"Hang in there, Usagi," said a crying princess, "you can do it!" Usagi shook her head, tears streaming down her face. She definitely could not do it. There was too much havoc being wreaked inside of her body, and she had no way to combat it.

And then a new feeling stirred inside of her body-the urge to flee. To just get up and bolt. It was overwhelming, this want to escape. It became so strong that the impulse propelled Usagi to her feet, its power taking even her by surprise. Without warning, the girl lept through the crowd of startled people, and dashed out of the room.

Usagi flew down the stairs, driven by this unknown force. She could hear frantic voices echoing faintly from behind her, calling her name. But they didn't register. Her instinct had taken over. It said: run, run, run. And to keep running. Can't stop running.

Before Usagi knew it, she was outside and fleeing from the castle grounds entirely. She was outside the doors... running across the lawn... past the gates... into the town... she didn't know where she was going. But for some reason, she was trying to lose the people chasing her-her friends. She had no idea why, but she had to get away. Run. Keep on running. Dodging in and out of nooks and crannies, weaving through the small buildings, Usagi did everything she could to lose her followers. Keep running. Run.

And then, Usagi saw the forest. And a wave of a strange feeling hit her like a ton of bricks. It was a feeling of foreshadowing. This forest... it was special. And it was going to be important in her life... how, she did not know. She was only thirteen. But still, she ran. There was a heavy pull, the trees tugging at her heart and drawing her towards them. She couldn't help it, couldn't resist their pull; Usagi had to go in.

And so she sprinted into the woods before her, hidden from all the eyes of her friends so desperately seeking her. And even though she had escaped them, she couldn't stop running. Usagi's legs kept moving, kept pushing her on.

She had no idea how long she ran. When her legs were so worn out that they'd turned to jelly and given out, she crashed to the forest floor and had the wind knocked out of her. Usagi had no strength left. She could only lay there, panting and gasping for breath and feeling cold and in agony and having no escape from any of it. Usagi's face was pressed against the soft grass in a clearing that she hadn't realized she'd come upon, complete with a clear pool on the side and some autumn flowers.

Then, it got worse. Much worse.

Usagi had never felt pain so severe in her entire life. It was like before, but exponentially greater. A searing blade had been thrust into her chest and was being twisted around, while the rest of her was still lit up with an icy fire. Her scream cut through the chilly night air like a knife, piercing it so harshly.

And then, her body-it began to glow. A white aura surrounded Usagi, growing brighter and brighter as the chill and pain soared. The entire clearing was illuminated with a sudden brilliance, the light flooding an area of the forest within a certain radius.

Then, the light vanished and Usagi's scream was cut off. The pain and cold disappeared, an everything was still, save for Usagi's quickly breathing form on the ground.

She lay there for a few more moments, to recover from the episode, eyes closed and body lax. Eventually, she heaved a sigh and began to stand up on wobbly legs. As she reached her full height, a terrible headache began to settle in. Usagi squinched her eyes shut and brought a hand to her head, feeling quite dizzy. But when she tried to put her hand to her head, she stumbled foward, suddenly losing balance.

Usagi quickly put her hand back on the ground where it had been, so that she might walk instead. She shook her head a little, seeing as she was unable to use her hands. For some reason, she had to use them to keep her balance while walking. Usagi looked down, quite irritated. But what she saw nearly made her faint. It was no wonder she couldn't use her hands...

She didn't have any.

As Usagi stared down at her legs, she realized something terrible. There were four of them. And she had no arms. Her arms had become legs, giving her an extra set. And she was taller now. And... she had no toes on her feet. She didn't even really have feet.

She had hooves. Usagi tried to scream, but her voice failed her.

She stumbled over to the edge of the pond she had just noticed, and looked into it with horror. What she saw reflected back at her on the surface was not Usagi. It wasn't a thirteen-year-old girl. No, not at all. It was... a colt.

Usagi was a horse.

She fainted from the shock. And as Usagi fell into darkness...

She awoke with a start, twenty years old.

"Not again!" she shouted to no one in particular. Couldn't she dream of something pleasant? Like soaring over fields of flowers or something? A recollection of her first days under the curse, that was not an enjoyable dream.

It had been ridiculous, then, how much the change hurt. Absolutely ludicrous. It became much easier with time, as Usagi learned to accept the form coming on. Now it just felt uncomfortable, although the chill was still unpleasant. There wasn't any pain anymore, not unless she fought it. Though sometimes she fought it out of frustration anyway, just so that she would feel the pain. Usagi had never avoided the change altogether. Held it off for a maximum of ten seconds, maybe. But it was always the same.

She had three days to be a woman. The night before, the night of, and the night after the full moon. Just three days-that was all.

Needless to say, it SUCKED.

Because for the majority of each month, that girl had to be an animal. It was not something she enjoyed. Sure, there were some things that weren't so bad. But that didn't mean Usagi wouldn't sell her soul to ger her humanity back.

"FINE!" she screamed again to the nothingness. Life obviously wants to deprive me of sleep, she thought bitterly, as had turned her personality. Well, have it your way!

Usagi blinked the sleep out of her eyes and decided that she hated the world more than usual today. And it was only her second night of being Usagi again. She had just twenty four hours or so left to be a human, and it really... pissed her off. Usagi used to complain about little things when she was young, about games being unfair, ans not getting enough apple pie... but that was nothing compared to now. Her complaints were completely valid, and perfectly acceptable. They were things like,

I haven't eaten in days, I'm hungry.

It's winter and I don't have any clothes, I'm cold.

It's raining and I have no shelter, I'm wet.

I'm isolated from the world, I'm lonely.

I live in the forest, I have no friends.

I miss my family and my childhood, I want to go home.

Such was her unfortunate life. And so, whenever her heart felt the urge to complain like this, her mind replied with: shut up and deal with it.

And that is what Usagi did every day-for seven years. It got old after a very short while, and she had become rather jaded because of it. Up until this seventh year of being cursed, nothing too exciting or unique had happened in Usagi's life.

But, eventually, something had to happen. And that is where the true story begins.

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Well?

Seiya/Usagi contact coming up! You'll love it.

Anyway, I do hope you like this fic, because I've spent an unbelievable amount of time on this story. Next chapter will be out very soon, as I now have the first thirteen of them written. Wow!

This IS a Seiya/Usagi fic! Not Mamoru/Usagi! And not Motoki/Usagi, either. And certainly not Usagi/Jackson! It's all about Seiya! I'm sorry if this chapter gave you the wrong impression. So I'm just clarifying that, especially because Seiya wasn't even in this chapter. Oh, and I made Jackson up, if you couldn't tell. But he's not just an extra, mind you. He'll get his screen time eventually.

Anyway, what do you think? Is it a good start? It doesn't have much... yummy stuff in it, because we have to get into the story, first. But once we do... man, are you gonna go nuts. In a good way, of course. I just wrote this one scene... I had to read it a few more times after I'd perfected it, cause I liked it so much.

Laters!