Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
To the Reader:
Chapter One! I've changed a few things here and there from the last time the story was posted, especially the characterization of the mother. So, I do recommend in rereading, because there is a considerable amount of new text.
Please note: I will constantly be making corrections to past chapters, and since the majority will be insignificant to the overall plot of the story, I won't announce it. Instead, you'll know whether or not I've changed anything by the header at the beginning of each chapter. There will be the word updated, and then a date. Depending on the date there, you should be able to figure it out! Of course if major changes occur, I will let you know!
Enjoy! And as always, DO let me know what you REALLY think. Good or bad comments, I'd love to know!
Start Chapter One.
In the Past
He had been her first true love. Serenity hadn't been able to picture herself with any other man. It was hard to, since they'd known each other since they were children. After all, she had made a promise...
Amongst the silhouettes of the trees, and the whispering stream, he and Serenity kneeled in the mossy grass. The light breeze and tiny, blooming flowers depicted the secret sanctuary that they had found together.
There was no need to speak. Indeed, they had never uttered a word there. The place was too divine; it held so much bliss, that the need to introduce a primitive sound, was always taken away from them. So afraid, they were, of shattering their mystical realm.
But on that fateful day, he broke their implicit code. "Serenity," he whispered suddenly, "Do you promise that we'll be together, forever?"
Startled from the trance, she exclaimed, "Shush! Don't talk about that yucky stuff! We're only nine!"
"It's not yucky," he stated. "Don't you want to be with me forever? It would be fun! We could keep coming here together, and play by the stream. It'd be our secret place, forever."
Thoughtfully she answered, "I'd like that. It would be nice to come here forever with you."
"So you promise?"
"I promise. Friends forever?"
"Friends forever."
----------
A different time in the past, much closer to the present
"Molly!"
A pattering of feet and rustling of skirts was heard. As the brown-haired maid flew into the room, she quickly straightened her white cap and stated politely, "You called, my lady?"
A woman dressed in a beautiful, dew drop blue, silk gown looked up from her needlework and ordered sternly, "Bring the tea in. I've already waited a half and hour for that girl. She'll just have to take her tea cold."
"Yes, my lady. Right away," said Molly with her customary curtsy and head bob.
"Where is that girl? Probably running around with that wretched boy again," the lady murmured as she resumed her needlework. The ivory needle went in and out of the cloth, pulling the silk thread with a tautness and swiftness only gained through years of experience. "That girl!" As the lady grew more and more agitated from her thoughts, the needle wove faster and faster, the thread pulled tighter and tighter, until suddenly, it snapped. "Molly!" she shrilled.
"Not again," Molly sighed as she quickly and efficiently prepared the tea in the kitchen. "What could she possibly want now? Never letting me have a moments rest," she muttered.
"Oh, Molly!" a voice giggled. "What's wrong?"
"Serenity!" Molly said in surprise. "Oh, you have no idea... uh, that is, good afternoon, Miss."
Serenity smiled as she straightened her dress and pulled straw out of her hair. "Why hello there, Molly! No need with formalities, no one's around!" she exclaimed delightfully as she spun around in a circle.
Ignoring what Serenity said, Molly proceeded, "I'm sorry, Miss. But I must be off. My lady is waiting for her tea."
"Who cares about Mother! Don't be silly. Sit down and chat with me!"
Giving up the façade, Molly sighed, "Oh, Serenity. What have you done now? You weren't out with him again, were you? You do seem a bit too happy."
"You're right! I am happy. So very happy. Everything is going to be all right now, Molly. You'll see!" Serenity responded cheerfully as she popped a sugar cube into her mouth. "And they lived happily ever after!" she giggled dreamily to herself.
"Serenity! I just don't want... your mother..."
"Molly!" a shrill voice interrupted.
Serenity gave a sad smile, her happiness gone in an instant. "You better get going. I suppose I have to meet mother dearest as well."
Molly nodded as she quickly made last minute adjustments to the silver tray. And with a rustle of her skirts and the swinging of the door, she left.
"I don't care what mother thinks," Serenity said firmly and quietly to herself as she tip-toed through the halls, past the parlor room her mother was in, knowing full well what was about to take place. "I don't care what she thinks. I don't care what she thinks.""Serenity, is that you?" cried her mother from behind the parlor room's French doors.
Serenity sighed in defeat as she entered. "Yes, mother."
"Look at you, Serenity," she said in distress. "I can also guess what you have been doing."
"More sugar, my lady?" Molly interrupted quietly.
"No! That'll be all," she said coldly. As Lady Wellington lifted her teacup to her mouth, she paused and stated, "Bring more thread though. It broke; the thread seems to always break more easily nowadays." Putting her teacup down, "You wouldn't happen to be taking some strands for yourself now, would you?"
"Oh no, my lady! Never!"
"I doubt it," Lady Wellington said imperiously as she reached for the broken thread. "It no longer seems as thick as it once was. I will not tolerate servants stealing. I do not employ thieves."
"But my lady, I've done no such thing!"
"Servants!" she said in disgust. "Absolutely useless. Well, that'll be all, Molly. But remember, I am watching you. The thread!" she ordered.
"Yes, my lady. I..."
Lady Wellington looked at her inquiringly, daring her to finish.
"I.... I.... I'll get more thread, my lady," Molly said in defeat as she curtsied and left the room.
The lady smiled approvingly to herself as she slowly stirred her tea.
"Mother!" cried Serenity in outrage, as she broke the few seconds of silence that had hung in the air. "You cannot blame Molly for a few broken threads! Why would she even wish to take some strands? It's a preposterous accusation!"
"Serenity! There you go again, defending the servants. It doesn't matter whether or not she committed the crime. I did it to let her know her place, to let all the servants know their place! We are better than them, Serenity. You must remember this. You are better than that foolish Shepard boy you've been seeing."
"Mother..."
"Serenity," her mother said deathly quiet with much severity. "You are a lady. You have a future. You carry the family name on your shoulders until you are married. You need to realize this."
"But Mother, please. He said..."
"I don't care what claims that boy has made. You are to be a great lady. Carrying on as you do now will only bring you misfortune. It will bring the family dishonor. Is that what you want? For your father's head to hang in shame, your sisters unable to marry, because of you?"
"No, I would never wish such a thing. I just..."
"Then stop it all!" She paused before continuing with a slight smile, "Serenity, you are my daughter. I only want the best for you, don't you understand?" she said as she took Serenity's hand and gently patted it.
"Mother, I..."
"Serenity. No more of this dreary discussion. I believe I have made my wishes very clear. Now, I can only expect for you to do, what a lady would do. Some tea?" she said pleasantly.
"No, thank you, Mother. I suppose I need to be in my room to think things over," she said with a forced smile.
As Serenity quietly parted from the parlor, tears slipped down her face. "Oh, what am I do? Why do I care so much of what she thinks?" she whispered as she thought of the day's events.
Flashback
They were in their secret sanctuary, with their feet dangling in the whispering stream, when he suddenly asked, "Serenity, do you remember the promise?"
Looking into his dark blue orbs, she answered softly, "Of course I do."
"You're seventeen," he stated. "As I am also. Men are going to ask you for your hand in marriage, but you remember our promise? I want to marry you, Serenity. I want you to be my wife."
Serenity looked away. What was she to say? She loved him with all her heart, but she knew her parents would forbid the marriage.
As if knowing what she thought, he quickly added while taking her hand in his, "I know your parents want you to marry someone wealthy and high in society. But I promise you that I will achieve it. I would do anything to have you." With a slight hesitation, he proclaimed, "I will be leaving tomorrow."
Serenity looked up, startled. "Leaving? Why?"
"I am to be a soldier. I'll make my way up the ranks until I become someone great enough to come back and wed you. Your parents will surely approve of me by then."
"How long?"
"I don't know. But do you promise that you'll wait?"
"I've always promised," she said with a small smile, as she tenderly brushed aside his ebony, black hair and tucked it behind his ear.
He gently smiled back in return and held her hand against his cheek. "I love you, Serenity," he whispered.
"As do I, Seiya."
End Chapter One.
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