I'm basing Serenity's klutz incidents on mine. I'm probably even more of klutz. Really. I was thinking about it this morning and pretended to trip so I could remember what it felt like. Then I reached for the door to my room to stabilize me, but the door wasn't there! Then I ran into the wall. I'm okay! My ankle is what hurts. Apparently it's possible to twist it by standing up.
How many of you will stare at stairs so you don't trip?
Serenity, up on time for once, gracefully stepped down the staircase and nodded at her servants in greeting. Her long white dress trailed behind her. She stared at each step solemnly until she reached floor. Serenity then raised her gaze. A giant grin spread across her face as she looked upon her advisors and said, "See? I can walk without tripping!"
"Very nice," muttered Luna. "Serenity, how did your meeting with Pluto go?"
"Hm?" Serenity said, playing with the strands of hair loose from her traditional hairstyle. "Oh, fine. She said it would be alright in the end."
"You didn't listen to her?" said Luna carefully.
Serenity sighed. "What meeting are we going to?" When Luna didn't answer, she continued, "The Alliance. Pluto asked me to delay it. I have enough problems as it is. Mars just barely thinks enough of me to stay in the same room. Uranus and Neptune think I'm silly. And don't get me started on Venus, Luna. You know how it is."
"But—"
"I can't jeopardize what I have. You may not realize it, but I remember what it was like when Grandmother ruled. I'm not going to ruin everything my mother put into this kingdom—and I'm absolutely not going to stop the Alliance. This is what my mother started, and I am going to finish it," said Serenity firmly.
Luna turned away. The pale blue tile of the parlor gleamed. Serenity picked up her dress and walked out the large doors of the palace as gracefully as a klutz could: she narrowly avoided running into the doorframe, but she fumbled with the marble stairs leading to the ground. It was a wonder her ankles weren't swollen.
Venus smiled at the young queen. "Afternoon, Serenity!"
"Ven—" Serenity hiccupped, looking around Magellan Castle. "Venus."
The blonde gained a curious look. She decided to ignore whatever had happened to the fifteen-year-old and resumed her chatter with Endymion, unaware that his eyes kept drifting to the girl.
"Sat—" Another hiccup. "—turn. Jupiter."
Jupiter openly laughed. "What's wrong with you, Serenity?"
"Hiccups. Involuntary re—action of the diaphragm. It's nearly impossible to get rid of. They just disappear. And you don't know where they come from," said Serenity. She smiled. "Hey, I think they're— Never mind."
Saturn and Jupiter exchanged looks. Saturn straightened herself calmly as the meeting started to pick up. Jupiter leaned back, slouching. Serenity knew Jupiter got away with that only because posture wasn't a big deal on her planet and the others were too scared to mention it to her. Negotiations continued with side comments from Jupiter ("At least you're dressed correctly this time," "Right, that's why you flirting with Endymion's guard rather than speaking with them as a proper leader," and "Next time, don't wear heels in the forest," being among them) and short stories from Saturn ("And so, Serenity, never ask Venus for advice on attracting people. She seems to be fond of irony.")
"Mercury," said Uranus, "We have bee—"
Serenity hiccupped. She blushed and shut her mouth tightly, trying to make them silent.
"We have been debating, and we think—"
Venus hiccupped. Everyone looked at her.
"Serenity must have given them to me! See, she's not doing it anymore!" defended the orange clad queen. Neptune hiccupped. Saturn began to giggle.
"What is this, Serenity?" Uranus exclaimed.
"Hiccups. They go away after a while . . . I think."
Someone else, no one could attain as to who, hiccupped.
Endymion gaped at her. "You think?"
"Yes," said Serenity. "The longest known case has been eighty years, but I doubt anyone hear will get them that long. Besides, I know a way to stop it."
A hiccup echoed.
"What is it?" demanded Mars.
"Well . . . who should I fix first?" Serenity debated, tapping her fingers on the light wood of Venus's table. The sovereigns gathered around the table waited for a moment, the only sound the hiccups of the majority of them had. Serenity continued to ponder her decision, seemingly oblivious of the noise.
"For goodness sa—kuh!" said Mercury. "Just choose someone!"
Endymion reached for her wrist as if he could pull her back into reality. "Se—ren—ity."
"Endymion!" Jupiter shouted. "Cure Endymion."
Serenity looked at him for a moment. "Alright. Now, you'll have to give me a moment to remember exactly how this goes . . . . Well, I don't have that."
Uranus hiccupped.
"Figure out something!"
The door burst open. Endymion's guards—he never seemed to go anywhere without them—entered. Kunzite straightened calmly, lowering his sword. Jadeite looked put-out that nothing interesting was going on. Zoisite and Nephrite looked appreciatively around them. The ruling queens had all been acclaimed to be beautiful . . . .
"There was a commotion," Kunzite said. "What is happening?"
Venus hiccupped. A gentile blush graced her face.
"I've got it!" cried Serenity. "Do you like cookies?"
The room stared at her. Endymion replied with an impatient "Sure" that would have intimidated her had he not hiccupped in the midst of the word.
"If you hiccup right now, I'll give you a cookie."
The room was silent.
"That . . . actually worked," Uranus said. "Serenity . . ."
Serenity beamed, twirling her silver hair. She pushed the pigtail behind her shoulder. "That's how I cured my mother. She'd try to do it to me too, but it doesn't work on me. In fact, if anything, it guh—ives me the hiccups. See? Er, hear?" Mercury lowered her head to avoid looks from her laughter. Zoisite noticed.
"Cookies?" Mercury asked, ready to withdraw from the attention. Serenity shrugged. She looked around the room. It was nice to see everyone working together. She hadn't seen everyone act like this since she had been a child. Friendship was one of the most important things on the Moon; it was no wonder that it should please her.
"As I had been saying," continued Uranus, "Neptune and I are prepared to trust you. I have no more requirements. Also, Neptune got a loan from this lord who wants to marry her, so she doesn't need your money anymore!"
"Uranus!" gasped Neptune. "My funds are sufficient now. I apologize for her ineloquent phrasing."
Mars smiled. Serenity raised her eyebrows at that, but lowered them again before too many people noticed.
"Perhaps we should be adjourned," suggested Pluto, who then left without anyone else answering. Everyone began to disperse. Serenity hiccupped.
"That was a rather entertaining meeting, Serenity?" said Jupiter pointedly. Serenity blushed and hiccupped again, sending Saturn into quiet giggles.
"What have you been doing since our last meeting?" asked Saturn.
Jupiter answered, but Serenity looked anywhere besides the two.
"And Serenity?" Jupiter said pointedly, turning her gaze full-on the younger girl. "I hope it doesn't bother you to share your memories. After all, you couldn't have done anything that you couldn't share with us. We have been friends for so long, you know. Don't you agree, Saturn?" Said queen nodded.
"Of course, Jupiter!"
Serenity pursed her lips. "I loathe you. Keep quiet about this, alright? I snuck to Earth and attended Endymion's festival in disguise. I think he may have known it was me, but I am not sure, so say nothing to him. Or I will break your arms. Or your jaws. That would work better, seeing as then you couldn't betray secrets.
Jupiter and Saturn both promised they wouldn't as they calmed down from their laughter.
"Of course, perhaps he should know. Serenity, it is . . . ." muttered Saturn.
"No! Don't!" she cried.
Jupiter shook her head. "I think there was another reason for your visit, Serenity . . . ." A tune used to tease childhood lovers was hummed under her breath.
At this point, Serenity found it necessary to abandon the teasing duo and walk over to the door. Mars saw this and made her way to Serenity. She caught her arm with a small grin that let Serenity know she had a story of her own. Serenity brushed the wrinkles off her skirt and waited for her somewhat-new friend to speak.
"I've always liked Uranus's 'ineloquent' phrasing," said Mars.
Serenity bit her lip to prevent a laugh. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. It always brings entertainment." Mars leaned forward and whispered, "Don't bring your hiccups to a meeting ever again or I will burn you into nothing. Speaking of which, don't do anything stupid."
"It's involuntary!" Serenity exclaimed. She hurried away.
"You have a letter, my queen," a servant said. Serenity nodded. She accepted and opened it quickly.
"'Dear Queen Serenity the First,'" she said. The greeting she had gotten so used to sent a grin across her face. "'I must confess something before I even begin with my intentions upon writing this letter: your diaphragm disease has spread across the solar system. How would you stop the hiccups of someone who doesn't care for cookies?
"'My reasons for this, in all actuality, are something entirely different.'"
Serenity looked at the smudge on the page. She tried to figure out what the two words had been, but gave up. If Endymion didn't want you to see something, she supposed you didn't. "'As you should very well know, you have a lot to catch up on in the world of politics. While I am sure your advisors are adequate, surely speaking to someone who has been in the same position would be better. I invite you to dine with my guards and me the next Tuesday. We will begin at 7:00 PM. It would be appreciated if you would reply soon as my cooks prefer to know exactly how many they are cooking for.'"
Yet again, there was a smudge in place of closing, followed by a quickly scribbled "sincerely" and his name.
Dinner with Endymion. Yes, Serenity could suffer through that.
So there you have it. Hiccups are from the Moon. Strangely enough, after writing that part, I developed the hiccups. Maybe they really are contagious!
Since this will never be revealed in the story, let me know if you would like me to message you the original version of Endymion's letter. I can't put it down here; it reveals too much. I'll probably send it out for those who want it about the 9th or 10th chapter. I know I'm reverting back to shorter chapters and I feel bad about that, but there are scenes I don't want to take place yet, and nothing in order can be changed. However, I do hope to have another chapter by the end of the week.
