Rated G
======================
The Legend of Serenity
======================
by: Spatula Gurl
-- Prologue
Aehibio, December 19, XA0028
It was a night without stars.
For Kato Midori, it was shied away as another night of symbolic
grief, another brush of cold darkness that would forever remind them of
the tragedy which had fallen upon Earth and all the living creatures
dwelling in it.
She was not so hard a woman, but she was one who was willing to
live. She was willing to fill the possible emptiness in her son Yoshi's
life. She had no need of any other reason. She was numb except for him.
The years had gone by, and everything had been the same for her. Likely,
it was the case with most of the grown people alive right now. But it
didn't have to be that way with Yoshi. He was still a child. She could
provide him beauty and colors with her words, and warmth in her embrace.
Perhaps someday, he will see only one shade of misery, but there was
certainly no rush.
Go with the flow of life, as she had always believed. It might not
be a time for hopes and prayers, but then again, it may be. Midori never
was sure about anything considering the circumstances, but it didn't
matter. Go on with the flow of life.
Midori made her way to the window. She had tucked Yoshi to bed an
hour ago, and now he was probably sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware
of terrifying events and hopeless realms. She lifted her face and felt the
cool breeze fan her face, her dark hair flowing freely about her shoulders,
slightly brushing the skin on her cheeks and neck. She gazed at the
moon, which provided the ghostly, bluish light of late. A symbol...
A symbol of what?
Midori wanted to sigh, but closed her eyes instead, her face still
lifted upward. There had been a time when people in Aehibio did not
believe in sorcery, nor in great powers the immortals held. It almost
made her laugh; the existence of skepticism, naivetè, logic--everything!
It was so difficult to imagine. And yet, those were a few of the things
which brought all of these misery and grief. And made all other beings
like her feel helpless. People like her were powerless. They remained the
regular persons they always were.
"Mama?"
The small, familiar voice broke through her thoughts. Yoshi was
tugging at her skirt, and rubbing his eyes with the back of his tiny
hand. He was looking up at her with those huge brown eyes, so innocent, so
trusting, so sleepy...
Midori bent down and wore a warm smile on her lips. One hand
brushed the boy's tousled mane, and another gently touched his suburned
cheek. She kissed his forhead lightly. "Ah, little one."
"Mama, I want to go back to sleep. Will you come and tell me
another story?"
She gathered him up to her arms and lovingly cradled his head by
the crook of her neck. "Of course, my love."
"Will you tell me again? About Serenity?"
She nodded and laid him down the bed then pulled the cotton sheets
under his chin.
"Serenity is the hope of people. It is the happiness and love that
people feel at times. Its presence brings peace and comfort to everyone.
The wise elders tell stories about the many forms Serenity takes. An angel,
a goddess, a star, an event, an emotion...
"But there are some who say that Serenity is a beautiful princess,
with long flowing hair, golden like the sun of old. They said that she
lived on the moon and always watched on the people of Earth. She took care
of the innocent, and the good little children like you. She was kind, full
of love, life, and laughter. They said that if you did something good,
she will take you by the hand, and lead you to her secret garden, where
there are plenty of birds and flowers of many colors. There are many
daisies, roses and tulips, and they all smell so sweet. She will let you
drink and wash your face by the beautiful crystal-clear stream, then play
with you all day.
"But if you did something wrong, then Serenity will not come down
from the moon. She will weep and weep, then the moon will not shine. There
will be clouds that will be covering it, not even the sun can shine through.
The tears will stop only if you do something good to erase the memories of
the terrible thing you've done before. Only then shall her tears stop, then
she will smile again, more brilliant than the sun itself. At night, she
will give you pleasant dreams.
"She had protected the people of Earth for many years. But there
was an evil demon who was jealous of her because the people loved her. So
one day, the demon took her away and locked her in his lair. From then on,
many fertile lands became dry and barren. Many people rapidly aged.
There was chaos and destruction everywhere. Earth became cold and dark. But
the innocent and the children remained hopeful and recited their prayers
regularly.
"Their prayers were answered. Serenity had four strong guardians,
and they were all mourning for the beautiful princess. But they heard the
children's calls. They summoned their remaining strength and vowed to search
for the missing princess. They set out on a journey to Earth to reach
the demon's underground lair. The task was not easy, because they also
had to find seven colored crystals that would open the gates to the demon's
lair and five warriors whose souls held the keys to unlocking Serenity's
cage. With the power to--"
Midori fell silent. She became aware of Yoshi's even breathing and
knew that he was already sleeping. She smiled, and leaned down to
kiss his forhead once again. She stood up and walked away from the bed. It
was time for her to get some rest as well.
On the way to her own bedroom, she glanced outside the window.
There it was, she thought. Emitting a pale blue light. The guardians. The
symbol.
A symbol of what?
Serenity.
=====================================================================
This story was written by Spatula Gurl. All comments and suggestions
should be sent to author@chocobuckle.com. Naoko Takeuchi owns
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon and its characters. I am not making any
profit from this fanfic.
======================
The Legend of Serenity
======================
by: Spatula Gurl
-- Prologue
Aehibio, December 19, XA0028
It was a night without stars.
For Kato Midori, it was shied away as another night of symbolic
grief, another brush of cold darkness that would forever remind them of
the tragedy which had fallen upon Earth and all the living creatures
dwelling in it.
She was not so hard a woman, but she was one who was willing to
live. She was willing to fill the possible emptiness in her son Yoshi's
life. She had no need of any other reason. She was numb except for him.
The years had gone by, and everything had been the same for her. Likely,
it was the case with most of the grown people alive right now. But it
didn't have to be that way with Yoshi. He was still a child. She could
provide him beauty and colors with her words, and warmth in her embrace.
Perhaps someday, he will see only one shade of misery, but there was
certainly no rush.
Go with the flow of life, as she had always believed. It might not
be a time for hopes and prayers, but then again, it may be. Midori never
was sure about anything considering the circumstances, but it didn't
matter. Go on with the flow of life.
Midori made her way to the window. She had tucked Yoshi to bed an
hour ago, and now he was probably sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware
of terrifying events and hopeless realms. She lifted her face and felt the
cool breeze fan her face, her dark hair flowing freely about her shoulders,
slightly brushing the skin on her cheeks and neck. She gazed at the
moon, which provided the ghostly, bluish light of late. A symbol...
A symbol of what?
Midori wanted to sigh, but closed her eyes instead, her face still
lifted upward. There had been a time when people in Aehibio did not
believe in sorcery, nor in great powers the immortals held. It almost
made her laugh; the existence of skepticism, naivetè, logic--everything!
It was so difficult to imagine. And yet, those were a few of the things
which brought all of these misery and grief. And made all other beings
like her feel helpless. People like her were powerless. They remained the
regular persons they always were.
"Mama?"
The small, familiar voice broke through her thoughts. Yoshi was
tugging at her skirt, and rubbing his eyes with the back of his tiny
hand. He was looking up at her with those huge brown eyes, so innocent, so
trusting, so sleepy...
Midori bent down and wore a warm smile on her lips. One hand
brushed the boy's tousled mane, and another gently touched his suburned
cheek. She kissed his forhead lightly. "Ah, little one."
"Mama, I want to go back to sleep. Will you come and tell me
another story?"
She gathered him up to her arms and lovingly cradled his head by
the crook of her neck. "Of course, my love."
"Will you tell me again? About Serenity?"
She nodded and laid him down the bed then pulled the cotton sheets
under his chin.
"Serenity is the hope of people. It is the happiness and love that
people feel at times. Its presence brings peace and comfort to everyone.
The wise elders tell stories about the many forms Serenity takes. An angel,
a goddess, a star, an event, an emotion...
"But there are some who say that Serenity is a beautiful princess,
with long flowing hair, golden like the sun of old. They said that she
lived on the moon and always watched on the people of Earth. She took care
of the innocent, and the good little children like you. She was kind, full
of love, life, and laughter. They said that if you did something good,
she will take you by the hand, and lead you to her secret garden, where
there are plenty of birds and flowers of many colors. There are many
daisies, roses and tulips, and they all smell so sweet. She will let you
drink and wash your face by the beautiful crystal-clear stream, then play
with you all day.
"But if you did something wrong, then Serenity will not come down
from the moon. She will weep and weep, then the moon will not shine. There
will be clouds that will be covering it, not even the sun can shine through.
The tears will stop only if you do something good to erase the memories of
the terrible thing you've done before. Only then shall her tears stop, then
she will smile again, more brilliant than the sun itself. At night, she
will give you pleasant dreams.
"She had protected the people of Earth for many years. But there
was an evil demon who was jealous of her because the people loved her. So
one day, the demon took her away and locked her in his lair. From then on,
many fertile lands became dry and barren. Many people rapidly aged.
There was chaos and destruction everywhere. Earth became cold and dark. But
the innocent and the children remained hopeful and recited their prayers
regularly.
"Their prayers were answered. Serenity had four strong guardians,
and they were all mourning for the beautiful princess. But they heard the
children's calls. They summoned their remaining strength and vowed to search
for the missing princess. They set out on a journey to Earth to reach
the demon's underground lair. The task was not easy, because they also
had to find seven colored crystals that would open the gates to the demon's
lair and five warriors whose souls held the keys to unlocking Serenity's
cage. With the power to--"
Midori fell silent. She became aware of Yoshi's even breathing and
knew that he was already sleeping. She smiled, and leaned down to
kiss his forhead once again. She stood up and walked away from the bed. It
was time for her to get some rest as well.
On the way to her own bedroom, she glanced outside the window.
There it was, she thought. Emitting a pale blue light. The guardians. The
symbol.
A symbol of what?
Serenity.
=====================================================================
This story was written by Spatula Gurl. All comments and suggestions
should be sent to author@chocobuckle.com. Naoko Takeuchi owns
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon and its characters. I am not making any
profit from this fanfic.