Wander
2/?
by: Lazuli
lazulidreamer@yahoo.com

Disclaimer... *rolls eyes*

Serenity relaxed by the fire, letting the heat warn her before she
readied herself to talk to Maggie. She wanted to ask if there was any girls
around with green hair. It seemed like such a strange question to ask to
this sweet woman, though. As Serenity recalled, some people who had
strange ideas were taken for unholy. But that wasn't for a few more
centuries, right? Serenity looked around her settings once more, and
determined that the time was not upon them yet. Maggie could still
celebrate her holiday in freedom.
"Maggie... may I ask why you are alone on Solstice Eve?
Is there not anyone to celebrate with?"
Maggie looked sad for a moment, her eyes turning distant.
"I once had someone that celebrated the holiday with me, but he died
when the snow fell too heavy and he become lost in the woods. He was
a very special man, and I always hoped that Selene would have brought
him back to me."
Serenity's heart lept into her throat at the name of Selene. Had
the progress of man changed since the last time? Selene had been a name
for her mother, a goddess of the Moon, and protector of the mortals that
lived below.
"I knew that it was her will that he die... that we were meant to find
eachother in another life... or that he was meant for another entirely. I only have
one memorial of him, and that is our daughter. He left her when he had died... I
am always so grateful that she is here for me, though. It is hard to live alone."
Serenity hair moved into her face as she nodded her head. She knew
all too well what Maggie felt. She had lived alone for the past two hundred
years, not living past the age that she took the power of the Crystal into herself.
Sixteen. Forever sixteen.
"I am glad that you are allowing me to spend this special time with
you, then. May I ask why you are not closer to other people?"
Maggie's eyes grew wide and she laughed. "I am not sure where
you come from Serentiy, but it must be far from here. We are very scattered
around here, part of the vow we made to settle, to create a new civilzation here.
Our line comes from the old lands, where everything was destroyed and
mankind vanished. Only a few of us made it to a safe haven."
Serenity fought to keep the shock from her face as Maggie
continued her tale. Mankind vanishing? How could her mother make a
mistake? She thought all souls had died and be reborn! There were a few
left over from the first creation? It presented the most astounding thoughts.
"My family hid in a grove of trees deep in the forest, or so the story
goes. It was a very strange site, and they wondered who had offered them
this sactuary, or if it was a trap. They lived there, though, untouched by
the magic above, until the forest vanished, and they were living in a new
age. They were quite astounded, and they passed on their story to each
member of their family."
Serenity was entranced. Who could have saved these indivudial
humans from Earth? And to what purpose did it serve? Serenity didn't ponder
over this. She knew there had to be a purpose, a reasoning behind all this,
and it would be revealed to her in time. For now, she would just relax in the
first human companionship she had in two hundred years.

Serenity awoke with a start as she found herself starting at an
unfamliar ceiling, and it came rushing back to her. The desire to find her
friends after so many years, her trip to Earth, and the meeting with Maggie.
She rolled over and met the blue-violet eyes of a young child with black
hair swaying in her face.
"You're the stranger who came to visit us in the night after
I was asleep?"
Serenity's eyes focused, and she smiled as she sat up. "Yes,
I am. My name is Serenity. What is your name?" This must be Maggie's
daughter. She looked so cute! Her eyes were filled with a happy innocence
that Serenity had lost long ago.
"My name is Ella. Are you going to celebrate the Solstice with us?
Mother said that you were." At Serenity's nod, the girl broke out into a wide
grin, and dragged Serenity toward the hearth were Maggie was bending over
a pot hung over the fireplace.
"Serenity! You're up!" Maggie's tone was mild, but had a hint of
amusement in it, as if she didn't expect her to sleep for so long. "I haven't
slept too late, have I? I am sorry... I am remiss in my manners."
Maggie laughed, and waved her hand. "You did not, I was only
teasing. Anyone can see how worn out you are. You must have been working
for days with no rest. And stressed as well! Come, sit down and have some
hot soup. I am sorry there is no porridge to offer, but with the sudden storm,
we are short on supplies."
Serenity nodded. On the Moon she had her food made for her by
magic, or grown in the gardens on the Moon. They did not have the elements
on the Moon as they had on the Earth. Serenity missed the cool air and even
snow that never fell on the Moon, but she knew that the people of Earth would
give up everything to attain the peacefulness and serenity on the Moon.
"It is fine... it is warm, at least." Serenity said, smiling, to try and
ease Maggie. She who must have been so lonely.
Maggie smiled suddenly, and sat down with three bowls. "You
are right. This is Winter Solstice."

Much later, Serenity was relaxing by the fire as she watched Ella
open one of the two gifts that she had received for Winter Solstice. Serenity
felt relaxed here, but knew that before the day was over, she had to make her
way out of her and continue searching for her friends, or go back home. She
glanced at the closed door for a moment, wondering what she could say to
Maggie. She didn't want to end the visit so soon.
Maggie saw her look, though, and nodded. "I know that you can not
stay out here for very long. Do not worry. I know how it is. We all have our path
to follow, and I wish you luck on yours, Serenity."
Serenity's eyes filled with tears as she heard Maggie's simple words.
She never realized how starved she was for human companionship. She thought
of her cats, and her home on the Moon though, and knew she had to get back.
She knew she would not find her friends this year, but perhaps in another lifetime,
they would appear again.
She looked down at Ella who had suddenly appeared at her side. "You
are going to come back to us, aren't you?" Serenity's eyes filled with tears again,
because she was wanted here. She nodded, and Ella grinned.
.She only wished that she could keep that promise.
Serenity was about to walk out the door when Ella stopped her.
"Don't leave yet! I have a Solstice gift for you!" Clutched in her hand was the
small rag doll that she had been sleeping with, and two dipped candles.
"To light on your alter next solstice eve. I am sorry that we do not
have a log for you." That was Maggie, who came to lean aganist the doorway
with Ella. "It's traditon."
Serenity nodded, and she took the gifts carefully, and knew that she
would treasure them for years to come.

Serenity held back her tears as she made her way back to the Moon.
She felt so close to that warn, loving family. And she knew that she could not
visit the family for very long... they would notice something strange if she never
aged while they did. Before long, Ella would be grown with family of her own.
Serenity would keep a close monitoring of them from the Moon, but knew that
her visits could only be once or twice before having to break off forever.

Serenity smiled as she watched Ella, a grown woman now, chase
her puppy around thier house. Maggie, sadly, has passed on, a for a fleeting
moment, Serenity had felt the presence of her friend with her on the Moon after
she had died. It was sad not to visit Ella, but she had not aged in the years
passing her last visit, and her coming down to Earth would most certainly
frighten the young girl. She just enjoyed seeing her grow up.
The area had grown more since she had went there, and there were
more people as well. More people that Serenity worried about. She could sense
that they were not good... that there was something lurking at the edge of their
thoughts, that would one day bring somebody great sorrow. Serenity prayed that
she was wrong, that it was only her imagination, that she only thought she saw
evil around every corner.
She watched Ella for a few more moments, getting ready to turn off
the screen and go visit the gardens which grew her food. A sudden flash off
a metal object made her turn to the screen swiftly, and her eyes widened in
fear as she watched in horror the drama played out before her. There was
nothing she could do. She knew that she could not arrive in time. She wept as
she watched, knowing the fate that was to come, as with much conviction as
the Senshi of Time once had.
Ella... the beautiful daughter of Maggie was faced with brigands...
evil men with weaponry and nasty hearts. They who feed off others peoples
fear and pain. Serenity wished that she could shut out the scene, to walk away,
or to better yet, transport herself down there to *do* something. She had about
made up her mind when the end came with startling swiftness. In that second that
Serenity hesitated, the sword moved with speed, and met it's target. Ella fell
to the ground, and Serenity fell to her knees, hardly believing her eyes. Ella was
dead, like so many of the others that had been close to her. Died with a weapon
that had killed so many others. As the soul brushed passed Serenity, she realized
just who Ella had been.

There we go! Cliffhanger! Please let me have some replies! Onegai??!
I know that this is a bit dark.... but please bear with me! It will get happier... I promise!!