Glad to see that I have people who are actually interested in this fanfic… I was positive that I would have NONE. Read on!
Disclaimer: Right now, I am disclaiming that I have to disclaim every single time! *looks pissed* I do not want to do this for every single chapter… but hey! Welcome to the Fanfiction world. Alright… *takes deep breath and said in a robotic voice… in one breath* Sailor-Moon-and-her-characters-doesn't-belong-to-me-because-it-belongs-to-Naoko-Takeuchi-but-this-story-is-mine-take-it-and-you-would-be-sorry-and-let's-get-on-with-this-thing-already! *breathes*
Chapter 3
She stood inside a dark room, shadows playing on the walls, shifting from one place to another. Walking up to a throne, she sat down, tapping her fingers on the arm of it, the clicking sounds of her nails the only sound in the room. Crossing her legs, she placed her hands on the crystal ball that is floating in front of her, burning purple and black. Inside of it, ghoulish images flash and horrific pictures appear. But that isn't what she wanted to see. She want to see the one that she desires, the one she want more than anyone. Concentrating on her crystal ball, his image slowly appear inside it, causing her to smile.
A pair of red eyes appear in the gloom around her, staring at her. "My master, what is it that you want?"
She looked up, her own red eyes shimmering in the darkness. "Did you kill her yet?"
The eyes moved up, as if its owner is smiling. "I have a plan that is perfect for her."
"Good, very good then." She stood up, brushing back her red hair. "Be quick with it, though."
"I plan to."
"Do not fail me." She narrowed her eyes. "Or you would share the same fate as the one before you."
The pair of red eyes flashed in anger, offended by her remark that its plan might fail. "I wouldn't, my master."
"Alright. You are dismissed." She sat back down, gazing in the crystal ball again.
"Yes... Queen Beryl."
Sitting inside her room, Serenity watched as the rain fell in torrents down her balcony window. Another flash of lightning crackled through the dreary gray sky, followed closely by a loud clap of thunder; she loved it.
Changing into a soft robe made of satin, she climbed onto her huge queen-sized bed, fixing the fluffy pillows so it would be comfortable. Stretching luxuriously, she picked up a romance novel she is more mature when she was a princess in the Moon Kingdom... not like what we have today... and flipped the pages to where she was up to. After reading the same line for about five times, she realized that she couldn't concentrate and wondered why. Her mind was blank.
Throwing her book onto the ground in disgust, angered at herself, she fell back on the bed, staring up at her canopied ceiling. Rolling over, she fell asleep, her slumber tortured by thoughts that she didn't even know of.
The knock came gently at first, accompanied by a female voice. When Serenity didn't pay it any heed, the knock became insistent. Tossing her covers away in a huff, Serenity stomped to the door and threw it open. "What is it?" She snapped, annoyed.
The young servant stared back at her with big frightened-looking eyes. It was her first day on the job, and even more so, her first encounter with the princess of the Moon. Stammering, the young girl threw herself at Serenity's feet, tears running down her cheeks.
"I am sorry... your... your Highness." She wept. "But the Queen has told me to... to... fetch you for the--"
Serenity, realizing that she has scared someone out of her wits, bent down to the sobbing girl. "I am sorry. I was in a bad mood." Helping the girl off the floor, she nodded at her. "My mother wants me to get ready, is that it?"
The girl nodded through her tears.
"What is your name?"
Realizing that a question has been issued toward her, she jumped. "My name... is... Yu...kina... your Highness."
"Yukina, is it?" Serenity smiled. "Thank you and you may go now." Turning away from her, Serenity began to close the door when a high pitched scream came from the hallways, followed by a loud WAK!
Running out, she realized that Yukina had run into a woman that was walking in the opposite direction of her, causing both of them to fall down. The loud "WAK!" was... Yukina being slapped by the woman.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" The lady yelled, her shrill voice bouncing off the walls. She stood up and dusted off her expensive clothing, her young beautiful but cold face in a snarl. "YOU NEARLY RAN ME OVER, YOU CLUMSY PEASANT!" Raising her hand again, she prepare to slash it across Yukina's face, who was lying on the ground in a heap.
Serenity ran out and grabbed the lady's hand before it can connect with any part of Yukina.
Gaping, the woman turned to Serenity. "Why, who gave you permission to do so?"
"I don't listen to people who give me directions or commands." Serenity told her. "I issue them."
Drawing her hand back in a huff, the lady wipe it many times on her scarf, as if the touch of Serenity's hand disgusts her. "Why should I listen to you?" She demanded. "I am a guest here... from the order of the QUEEN." She smiled triumphantly, as if this made her higher than everyone else.
Serenity nodded. "Yes, but I see that you don't understand the rules here that much... Lady..."
"Countess Angelica from the House of Ainotama." I have NO idea what Ainotama is... so forgive me. Lady Angelica said, another triumphant smile on her face. Sneering, she looked Serenity from head to toe. "I see that someone have been taking a nap."
Serenity pretended not to have notice the Countess's comment and made a graceful curtsy. "May I be the first one to welcome you to the Moon, Countess Angelica. May your stay be pleasant."
Sticking her nose in the air, Countess Angelica sauntered down the hallway, her skirts making a swish-swash sound on the carpeted floor.
Yukina, having recovered from her shock, gaped at Serenity. "Thank you, your Highness." She stammered, curtsying. "But I still don't understand why you let her go! You could have just told her that you are the Princess and let her fall on the floor, begging."
Serenity chuckled. "And what fun would that be? She has bound to be at the ball tonight... and THEN, she would be embarrassed beyond anyone she had embarrassed before." Smiling, she walked back into her room, laughing silently to herself, to the amazement of Yukina.
"Your Majesty." Endymion bowed to the Queen. "Lovely ball you are having here tonight."
The Queen smiled at him. "Yes, Prince Endymion. Lovely indeed."
"Everyone seemed to be here." Endymion looked around, purposely avoiding the many women's eyes that are trained on him.
"Everyone... but my daughter."
"Oh?" Endymion said, wondering where she couldn't have gone. 'Where is she?' He thought and then canceled that thought. 'SHUT UP, ENDYMION! You don't care...!' A voice in his head laughed. 'Or do you?'
Gritting his teeth, he picked up a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter's tray, taking a sip of the fragranced mix of fruits. Before he knew it, dinner was to be served.
Turning around, he sees a beautiful woman standing near the window. She was blond with the air of a sophisticated upper class female. Walking over to her, he bowed. "I am surprised to see such a beautiful creature as yourself without a date."
She glanced at him, and then look at him up and down. She obviously liked what she saw. "Oh, my escort? Well, it's my first time on the Moon so right now, I don't have one." She smiled coyly at him. "Why don't you have one?"
Endymion laughed. "Same reason as you."
"Oh?" She offered him her hand, which he took and kissed it gently. "My name is Angelica. Countess Angelica of Ainotama."
"And my name is Endymion. Prince Endymion of Earth."
"So you are the prince that everyone is talking about." She flushed prettily. "My my, rumors don't lie, do they."
CUT! *freezes scene and walks up, dressed in a director's outfit, holding a pointer* You see what is wrong here? *points at Angelica* What does Endymion see in her? Look at that outfit. I mean, did she get it from a thrift shop? *shakes head at the blushing* That is so fake. I swear, she must have used an overdose of makeup. *walks over to Endymion* And why does he look... so peeved? Doesn't he WANT this introduction? She is obviously a bounty hunter... *tries to push them apart but fails* Oh yeah, I forgot. I froze the scene. *smiling sheepishly, I backed off but not before giving the frozen Angelica a hard kick in the shins* ACTION!
"Rumors?" What rumors?"
She turned away from him. "Nothing." Smiling, she held out her hand. "Why don't you escort me to dinner?"
"It would be my pleasure." He said and took her hand.
Strolling into the huge dinning room of the palace, he couldn't help but marvel at the pure elegance of the place. Beautiful paintings huge from the gold gilded walls with the expensive wallpapers of fairies and lovely elves. Hanging from the high ceiling made of colored glass, are several huge chandeliers made of crystal. The long ebony table was another wonder of its own. It stretch across more than half of the room. On it, were several gorgeous flower arrangements along with some lit silver candles.
Seating Angelica down, he sat down also. Chatting with her, his mind, with a will of it's own, wanders to think about Serenity again. Gritting his teeth, he asked himself why he keeps doing that. Looking up because of the sudden quietness in the room, he saw that a bald-looking man was standing nervously by the door, fixing his cravat self-consciously.
The man took a big breath and said, "Her Majesty, Queen Serenity of the Moon and her Highness, Princess Serenity!"
The pair entered together and everyone rose up from their seats to either bow or curtsy. Serenity was dressed in a pure white gown, it's long train dragging across the floor after her. A crown of jewels sat on top of her silver head, the moon on her forehead flaring gently from now and then.
'She looks wonderful tonight,' he thought and then mentally smacks himself. 'What are you thinking, Endymion? Did you forget that she--'
"IMPOSTER!"
Snapping out of his thoughts, he turns around to see who said that. Realizing in horror that it was Angelica, he whispered to her, "What are you talking about?"
She lifted her nose in the air and points at Serenity. "She is an imposter. She isn't the princess."
A low and confused murmur echoes throughout the room. The Senshi walks over to their princess and stood beside her.
"What is she talking about?"
"You mean that whoever is up there isn't the real princess?"
"Then who is she? Why is she pretending to be the princess?"
"What is going on?"
Queen Serenity wisely let the talking and question run its course before speaking. "Countess Angelica, please explain your... eh... rather DISTURBIVE behavior."
Angelica sniffed. "I passed her in the hallways. She curtsied at me, not to mention that she stood up for a mere servant. What princess would curtsy to someone that is below their station?"
Serenity smiled, a dry one. "I would. I stood up for the servant because you are treating her the wrong way. We have different rules on the Moon. A servant here can be worth as much as you are, Countess Angelica of Ainotama."
"And another thing would be that all of the Serenities have the same silver hair and silver eyes along with the telltale crescent moon on their foreheads." Makoto put in, standing up for her friend.
"There you have it." Queen Serenity said, turning to her.
"Bow before royalty." Endymion hissed to her.
Angelica stood there, her face red with anger. "I will not do such a thing!"
Rei said, "I hope you do know that by not bowing to the rulers of the Universe, you are also declaring treason against them. The penalty for treason is death."
Angelica glared at Serenity and then at Haruka, her hatred for them barely held back. Fuming underneath her breath, she curtsied, her eyes on the ground.
Nodding, Queen Serenity motioned for her subjects to sit down. The dinner has begun.
"I can't believe it!" Minako said to her later, when they are all back in the ballroom. "She mistaken you for a servant?"
Serenity laughed, leaning next to a window, her long silver hair fixed in two odangos on top of her head, the rest coursing down. "I knew that she would do that. She has too much pride to let a "servant" be called the princess."
"You are going to pay for that."
Serenity straightened as her friends parted. Standing there is Angelica, her blue eyes flashing in anger.
"Hello, Countess Angelica." Serenity said coolly. "Enjoying your first ball on the Moon?"
Angelica glared at her. "You shut up right now."
"How dare you?" Rei exclaimed. "You first threatened her and then you told her to shut up?"
Angelica tossed her blond hair. "So what? If I can't say that to her, I would say it for you then." She glanced at Rei.
Rei grinned. "You don't know who I am? I am Princess Rei of Mars."
Her jaw dropped five feet. "WHAT?!"
Minako laughed. "You didn't know? We are all Princesses. I am Minako of Venus."
"You can't be serious."
Makoto rolled her eyes and stared at her. "Do we look like we are kidding?"
Angelica clasped her hand to her mouth, her eyes as big as saucers. "I can't... believe it."
Rei snorted. "Believe it, girl."
Angelica glared at them once more, her gaze full of disbelief and hatred. Sticking her nose into the air, she stamped away from them, cursing underneath her breath, without a doubt, curses for them.
Endymion saw this entire display with interest. "I can't believe that she did that again." He said, turning to Kunzite. "You would think that once is enough."
Kunzite laughed, his laughter aimed at Endymion. "Talk about yourself! You pushed her to the ground, refuse to bow, and you also insulted her parents, which is, Queen Serenity."
Endymion realized that in shock and placed his hands around his neck. "She could have me killed."
Nephrite grinned at him. "Be grateful that she didn't think about that or she has the heart to do so."
Endymion glared at his friends. "And you? You accompanied me and I don't see you guys standing up for her."
They looked at one another and smiled. "We are under your command." They chorused in unison.
Endymion glared at them again, his eyes full of disbelief that his friends would do this to him. "Friends." He huffed. "What are they for?"
"Might I have this dance?" A man asked, holding out his hand to her.
Serenity smiled at him. "Why, certainly." She said and allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor, where many couples are already dancing.
"You know, you looked very beautiful tonight, Princess Serenity." He said, smiling down at her.
"Oh, thank you." She lowered her eyes, realizing that his hands weren't where they supposed to be. They pull her too close to him for comfort and she doesn't like his intentions.
"May you please put your hands in another position because--" She paused suddenly, her ears picking up the rushing sound of... fire? Pulling out of his embrace, she looked around him and to see a huge burst of fire rushing toward the dance floor from the hallway.
The man sees this and he grabbed her hand, trying to pull her to safety. Because of the haste, she fell, landing on the ground and directly in the way of the fire that is charging toward them. The man glanced at her and the fire, his eyes in fear.
"I am sorry, your Highness!" He cried and ran for his own life.
Serenity stared back in the direction that the fire is coming, her eyes wide open in fright. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can see her friends screaming at her to move, to get out of the way, her mother, running to reach her but held back by her advisors, tears coursing down her cheeks, and Angelica, smiling happily and joyfully.
"SERENITY!" Her friends and her mother shouted, trying to get to her but since they are held back by other people, they couldn't. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Her eyes opened in fear, she could only stare as the fire rush toward her, heat emitting from it in torrents. Suddenly, just before the fire hits her, a black clothed figure jumped out and grabbed her but whoever it was... he wasn't fast enough. The fire closed in around them but he opened his cloak and covered her in it.
Tears running freely down her face, she screamed, loud enough to shatter glass, her crescent moon glowing brightly on her forehead. Silver light surrounded them, protecting them from the fire. As soon as it pasted, she opened her eyes, staring up at the person who was holding her. Smiling weakly, her vision grew blurry and her senses dulled, she submitted to the comforting warmth, her silver eyes closing. The last thing she remembered was the distant aroma of roses and a pair of concern and crystal clear blue eyes staring down at her.
"She is waking up! She is waking up!" A voice called and immediately, sounds of many running feet was heard.
Opening her eyes, she looked at the faces around her, her vision still not restored.
"Serenity! Thank God!" Queen Serenity cried in relief, grabbing her hand and clasping it to her heart. "I was so worried."
Serenity looked confused. "Who are you?"
Everyone in the room froze. Queen Serenity widen her eyes in shock.
"You don't... remember who I am?" She said slowly, her tone in pain.
"Who are you? Where am I? Who am I?" Serenity asked in confused. 'Who am I? What am I doing her? Who is this woman?' She looked around her. 'Who are those people around me?'
"Serenity!" Rei grabbed her around the shoulders and shook her. "This isn't a game!"
"Serenity? Is that my name?"
Queen Serenity covered her mouth with her hand and then buried her face in Ami's shoulders, tears soaking the fine fabric of her dress.
The doctor cleared his throat. "You should be grateful. Since her Highness is strong, she made it with only her memory lost. If other people uses the Imperium Crystal, they can lose their lives."
"Imperium Crystal?" Ami turned to the doctor. "She doesn't have it."
"What?" The doctor looks at Serenity. "Then what was it that came out of her to save her and Prince Endymion?" C'mon... please don't tell me that you haven't figured it out that the person who so gallantly tries to save her isn't Endymion?!
Everyone turned to look at Serenity, who gave them a puzzled look, and then at Endymion, who shrugged.
"And what about that man that she was dancing with before this happened? The one who left her in the way of the fire?" Michiru asked.
"That man... he doesn't look familiar at all." Michiru said thought fully. "Who can he be?"
"Only one thing." Haruka said grimly. "The enemy."
Everyone, except for Serenity, who is lost right now, wishes to disagree but they knew that Haruka was right. But then... who is the enemy? That question races through their heads.
"Can it be... Queen Beryl?" Ami said in shock.
Queen Serenity gasped. "Please don't let it be..."
I know... this chapter is a bit... short. Well, I do not like cliffhangers that much but then... what can I do? This is the perfect opportunity to do one... any questions, complaints, or comments... e-mail me at shadowbluemon@yahoo.com!