by Sailor Earth
*Disclaimer*
This story is an AU (Alternative Universe) fic, and very loosely based on the tales of Robin Hood. I'm using the Japanese names, because I think that they're much nicer. However, to avoid confusion, I've added a little list of the Japanese names, and their dub-translations:
Princess Serenity - Princess Serena
Chiba Mamoru - Darien
Prince Endymion - Prince Darien
Tuxedo Kamen - Tuxedo Mask
Mizuno Ami - Amy
Hino Rei - Raye
Kino Makoto - Lita
Aino Minako - Mina
Meiou Setsuna - Trista
Tenou Haruka - Amara
Kaiou Michuru - Michelle
Tomoe Hotaru - Hotaru
Rubeus - Rubeus
Cooan - Catzi
Beruche - Birdie
Karaberas - Avery
Petz - Prisma
Esmerodo - Emerald
Prince Dimando - Prince Diamond
Safiel - Saphire
*Chapter One - A Midsummer Night's Dream*
"With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania, some time of the night,
Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight."
From A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
My world first began to turn upside down on June 21st - Midsummer - 9 days before my 17th birthday.
It was a beautiful night, about 10pm, but still light outside, when my uncle knocked on my bedroom door.
"Serenity, are you in there? Can I come in?" I wanted to say no, but I knew that it would make no difference, whatever I said. He would still come in.
See, I'm Princess Serenity. My mother is the Queen, and also called Serenity, or sometimes Selene. Anyway, for all my life, we have lived in our beautiful white marble castle on the edge of the Silver Forest. All the trees shimmer with silver in the moonlight, which is how the forest got its name.
My Father, Sol, was the King, but he went far away to fight in a war against a dark kingdom in the Shadow Lands, and we have heard nothing of him since. His brother, Prince Dimando - my uncle - says Papa is dead, but I do not believe him. The Silver Imperium Crystal, which he left with Mama when he went away, still glows brilliantly with hope. Dimando, however, has told everyone that since my father will never return, he is now King. I know that one day Papa will return, and our Kingdom and its people will be happy once again.
"Yes, you may come in, Uncle," I sighed resignedly. The heavy door creaked, and his shoes clacked against the marble floor as he entered.
"My darling Serenity, I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you looked at dinner this evening. I have something for you. I was keeping it for your birthday, but I've decided that I want you to have it now." He opened up his hand to reveal a shining diamond pendant. "Try it on," he told me, "Here, I'll help you."
Much as I disliked my uncle, I decided that I would humour him, rather than make a fuss. I turned around, and lifted my pigtails out the way so that he could fasten the catch on the back of my neck. The pendant was disgustingly heavy, and probably cost a small fortune. As I mused on this fact, I suddenly felt his warm, sticky breath on the back of my neck, and his lips brushed the bare skin of my shoulder. I hated it when he got like that this, and I refused to stand for it. I whirled around and yelled at him angrily.
"How DARE you?! Leave me alone, Dimando!"
"You know you want me, Princess. Why else did you let me in here?" his voice crooned.
"I could hardly stop you, could I? If I'd said no, you'd still be here!" He grabbed my shoulders.
"I love it when you get angry, Baby. I'm so glad that we'll be married soon!"
"In case you'd forgotten, incest is illegal." I told him.
"I'm the King - I make the laws." He smiled at me sarcastically.
"You'll never truly be King!" I screamed. He didn't answer. He just forced his lips against mine, instead. His hands gripped me tightly so that I could not move. I was so scared. But then something very strange happened. A blood-red rose sailed through my window, scraping over Dimando's shoulder and tearing his shirt, before landing on the floor at my feet. A shaken Dimando looked at me, span on his heel and left the room.
I bent down and examined the rose. Someone had fitted the end of the stem with an arrow-like point. I removed the point, and placed the rose in a vase of water. I took off the pendant and placed it on the windowsill. Then I brushed my hair, and changed into my nightdress.
Climbing into bed, a warm, sweet breeze danced with my curtains, and filled my room with the musky scent of roses. I closed my eyes and soon drifted into slumber.
I was awoken a couple of hours later by a rustling noise coming from my window. Sleepily, I opened my eyes, and was shocked to see a masked figure crouching in the open window. His silver-black cape billowed in the midnight air, and then he leapt down to the ground. I got up and leaned out the window. It was long way down, yet I saw him disappear into the Silver Forest, seemingly unharmed.
An overpowering scent of roses filled my room again, and I got back into bed, sleeping once more.