If anyone is reading this, please review!! Even if it's only to say you read it. I know it's long, but I like long stories, doesn't anyone else? I'll take any flame or suggestion.
Chapter Four
I decide to sink back into the shadows and not bother Serena again after a run in with her friends at the mall. They had cornered me and demanded to known what I'd done to Serena. At a loss for words, I just ran again. But now I see that I spend too much time running, I'm not really living. Then again, I do have a job and at least one real friend, Ambrosia. She accepts me as a mentor even though I look so much younger than she. Everyday we go out for lunch, and sometimes dinner, and I teach her a little more. She does have some talent, but it will take a lot of training. I also enjoy my work as my mind is eternally caught in the past. So maybe I do have a life, and maybe that life is good. Unfortunately, thinking that I might have almost killed Serena sort of puts a damper on things. I should be glad that Darien doesn't remember anything at the moment since he'd probably come after me.
I still silently watch over the scouts after work. It's easy because they're always together now that they have a play to practice. Serena actually works hard at learning her lines, probably only because she wants to impress Darien. Darien is doing a lot of practicing too. He and Ann are together a lot, going over their lines (Darien is the prince and she the princess, after all.) There is no end to Serena's wailing on this state of affairs, but frankly I don't blame her. If Darien didn't want Ann around he could get rid of her. Then again, Ann's brother, Alan, has been after Serena for a while and she hasn't stopped his advances either. Either they are both terribly politely, or terribly idiotic, and I believe the latter. Nothing good comes from letting someone think you may like him or her as much as they like you. However, I worry about Serena. Sometimes she is so desperate to make Darien remember it scares me. Even more so since I don't know just how much she now recalls after my spell. In the end, I decide I have to talk to her, and decide after their show would be the best time. That's only in two weeks anyway. I spend the time burying myself in my work and teaching Ambrosia.
Opening night of the play comes around. As far as I can see, it is a full house. My seat is in the back so I won't be seen and distract the actresses. The play follows the standard Snow White story line, except there aren't any dwarves. Melvin thought that since the girls complained so much about their part, they would be happier as woodland creatures instead. I already knew this of course, but the fifteen-dollar admission price is worth every penny to see the scouts dressed as furry little creatures! Unfortunately, they don't even make it to the second act hardly when a cardian attacks. The audience doesn't understand that this is a real monster and a threat to them unless they want to spend the next week in a coma—the monsters only steal energy, they don't kill anyone. (If they would just try and setup an energy bank like there are blood banks it would be easier all the way around. All except for the part where the one who is controlling the monsters takes over the earth…)
The girls seem more than a little ticked that their play is being interrupted and are taking it personally. Four woodland creatures and one evil queen disappear as the set is torn down. Darien has the nerve to save Ann from the cardian and then the sailor scouts appear, even more theatrically than usual. I spot Serena's brother, Sammy, in the front cheering on the fight. As is the norm, an alien that reminds me of an elf-like Alan, also appears. The battle is relatively quick. The scouts enjoy the applause of the audience for their wonderful performance, then disappear. What catches my attention, though, is Ann stalking out the backstage door, now visible through the crushed scenery if one has good eye sight, like she is going to kill someone. I find this strange not because Ann is such a wonderfully kind and giving person that I can't imagine her wanting to harm someone, but because she isn't chasing Darien around thanking him for saving her and trying to convince him that means they are destined to be together. I make a quick exit out the back and float around until I spot her. I follow her.
She goes into a nice apartment building that I recognize as where she lives. This not being the first time I've followed Ann, I know which window to look for. I don't like the way she treats people, especially Serena, and the way she chases after Darien. It just seems too weird. And it is about to get weirder.
Ann storms into the living room as I move into position to hover outside their window. I can hear the door slam even though I'm outside. The brother and sister start to argue—and turn into the alien enemies the scouts have been fighting. Then Alan kisses Ann, a kiss that shows they are definitely more than brother and sister. What kind of non-people are they anyway?! Alan chases after Serena and Ann after Darien, when, in fact, they love each other. You can't even call that a love triangle, when you add in that Serena loves Darien but Darien doesn't remember he loves Serena it begins to form more a Pandora's box than a love triangle. I was right to have thought that something was wrong about them. It's only been about half an hour, so I decide to go back to the play and try to talk to Serena; she should know about this.
When I reach the theater, the audience has already gone and the actors are milling about the stage debating what they can do to fix the scenery for the next night's performance. All the scenery and the theatre expenses still have to be met, so as they say, "the show must go on." Actually, all but one actor is milling around, one young blond is draped across the dwarves-that-are-animals beds, sleeping. Rei glares at Serena's resting form.
"How can she sleep like that! We have so much work to do." She goes over to Serena about to wake her when Amy intervenes.
"Just let her rest. I don't think Serena would really have anything to suggest anyway." The others nod agreement. Then they all go back to the dressing rooms to get props and costumes reorganized. As soon as they are out of sight I move out of the shadows from the back of the theatre. Not wanting to make Serena mad by shaking her awake, I am slightly more devious. I float over to the stage lights' switch and turn on everything, training the spotlight on Serena. She jumps and covers her eyes.
"Not funny, Rei. I was having a really good dream." With that said she plops back down and turns over away from the light to go back to sleep. I come back down to rest on the stage.
"Not Rei, Serena. Sorry, but I wanted to talk to you." She turns back over and stares at me, lost in thought. I stare back. The usual staring ensues. Déjà vu.
"So," I start a little uncomfortably, "Have you eaten yet?" She looks chagrinned momentarily.
"Um…not really…I kinda ate all of the queens apples…" Serena indicates an empty basket that her character carries in the play when she gives Snow White the poison apple. Then she brightens up, "But I'm still really hungry." Her stomach growls to accentuate her point.
"Good. Let's go over to the arcade, my treat for your stunning performance." Serena jumps up and runs off stage, returning in a flash with her coat.
"I told everyone that I was going out to eat," she tells me. We head out to the arcade and Serena goes on chattering cheerfully about the play and how this was the first time she had been happy to see a cardian, if it hadn't appeared when it had, Darien would have kissed Ann. To myself I think that Alan probably timed that just right. I am about to tell her about the duo when we reach the arcade and Serena starts chattering again, this time about Andrew. I guess she still considers him her first real crush. She pulls me up to the counter to introduce him. He's nice, but busy, as he ushers us to a booth in the crowded restaurant. After ordering, Serena quiets down, so I tell her about my new job and Ambrosia, trying to think of a way to subtly broach the subject of what she remembers. She listens attentively, well, almost. (When the food comes it is a lost cause.) It doesn't take Serena long to finish eating.
"You know acting is hard work. All those lines, you really work up an appetite," She says smiling contentedly. "Thanks."
"You don't have to thank me. I should apologize. The remembrance spell didn't work right. You lost a week and now the others won't ever trust me." I watch her for a reaction. Serena has on one of her few serious expressions.
"It wasn't your fault. When I went to sleep, I remembered everything like a dream and the more I saw the more I wanted to stay there. It was so beautiful and I used to be graceful and good at everything. No one would ever have called me a klutz or crybaby then." A smile brakes across her face, "or meatball head." We both laugh for a moment and I feel the slight tension that was my worry leave me as she goes on more cheerfully this time. "I don't know what …ah…spell you used, but even though I tried to see everything of my old life, the only memories I could reach were those with you in them, too. Not that there's anything wrong with that," she adds quickly, "We had a lot of fun didn't we?" I nod, smiling. Then her face goes serious again. "What happened to you? And don't just sigh at me and change the subject like I know you always used to."
"Hmmm…you certainly do remember a lot. Maybe all that sleep will have done you good in the end. You're going to have a lot of homework to make up you know." She frowns slightly at that.
"Unah, you're not changing the subject this time. Tell me," Serena said in her most imperial voice. I catch myself about to sigh, then laugh at my predictability.
"Alright, I'll tell you. I'm surprised you don't recall already since you know about the destruction of the Moon Kingdom." I pause for a moment, collecting my thoughts.
"A very long time ago, I was the daughter of the captain of the guard and a lady in waiting to the Queen of the Moon Kingdom. Since they both worked at the palace, we were given quarters there, near the royal ones, so my parents could be near the Queen. My Father was there to protect her, my Mother to support and help her with the duller of everyday tasks. They happened to get pregnant at nearly the same time and became close friends. You were born about a month before me. The other scouts were already three by the time you were born. They had been sworn to protect you, and the Kingdom, but they were so young that still mostly lived at home. You would cry whenever you were alone, so when I was born they put us in the same room. Basically, we grew up together. Officially, I was your lady in waiting and travelling companion when the other scouts were busy. I also learned some defense moves from my father since I was also your last protector. At that time, I had no power, even though my father did, so all I could really have done if someone had already gotten past your scouts would be to shield you from any blast. It never came to that."
"We were kind of mischievous when we were young. The court just put up with our pranks. Of course, we grew out of that and when the other scouts were nine, we were six, they came to live at the castle." I didn't add that once they came, I backed off, letting them take over as Serena's best friends, since that is what I believed, and believe, is their place. After all, they were/are all princesses, I will never be. I only went back to playing the best friend when they went home to visit their parents. "Everything was fairly peaceful, then an unprecedented event took place when we were sixteen, the prince of the earth came to visit the Moon Kingdom as a gesture of peace. The earth was the crown jewel of the solar system, even though the other planets were too proud to admit it, they were all really watching over it and protecting it. When the prince came with his four guardians, everything changed. You fell in love with him, and he loved you just as much in return. All of the scouts found a love, Rei with Jadeite, Mina with Malachite, Amy with Zoycite (as a man. I, the author don't go for all those same sex relationships, no one in this story is going to be gay or a lesbian, sorry to anyone who is), and Lita with Nephlite. I have to admit that I was more than a little jealous. None of you were supposed to love them, it was almost forbidden, so you hid your affections and stole down to the earth in secret. One time I followed after you to warn you that someone from the court was catching on, Luna of course. That was when I met Jarreid, a palace soldier. It wasn't exactly love at first sight, but believe me, I came back with you again. I also helped to keep Luna at bay by setting her up with Artemis. All six of us hid our feelings," I smile sardonically, "We hid for too long. An ambitious noble woman from the earth managed to get herself engaged to the prince. That was a very bad day. That woman was Beryl and it didn't take her too long to figure out that Darien loved you, not her. After that, she discovered the scouts loved his generals and then even found out about Jarreid and I. I was the most vulnerable as I had no powers," I say bitterly, feeling the silent tears coming down my face. I no longer see Serena, just the past…
I look out one of the large picture windows of the palace. The stars shine brightly, but the earth is brighter still. I can't help but gaze longingly at it. Jarreid had asked me to marry him last night, just before Serena and her court left from their "diplomatic mission" to earth. Of course, I had accepted and we are now engaged. It will be a few years before my parents will consent, though. For him, I will wait an eternity if I must. So caught up in my musings am I, that I never hear the footsteps behind me until a hand covers my mouth and it is too late…
"Hey, anything wrong?" Serena brakes into my thoughts and I'm brought back to the present, "You just spaced out worse than I do." I am trying to remember where I was in my story when I spot Serena's friends coming into the arcade. Unfortunately, they see me also.
"Serena, stay away from her!" Lita all but yells as Rei pull Serena up and away from me. Darien stands behind them, frowning in confusion at this sudden and unexpected show of protectiveness. Luna even stands in front between Serena and I. Putting my hands up in mock surrender and backing away slowly, I leave the arcade. Serena just continues to look surprised. I can't say that I blame them since, after Beryl, I've done more damage to Serena than anyone else. She hadn't even been laid up for a week after fighting Beryl, for that matter. Oh well, I think to myself, tomorrow's another day.
I head to work early the next morning, planning to walk instead of fly, or at least part of the way. I find myself unconsciously going to Darien's neighborhood. As I approach his apartment, I see Ann is standing around the corner of the building's sidewalk, just waiting to "run into" Darien. Enough is enough, if Darien isn't going to do something about the pest then I will. Now I realize I didn't tell Serena that Ann and Alan are the enemy they've been fighting. Serena's ditzyness is obviously beginning to wear off on me. I put the thought aside and make a beeline to Ann, unfortunately, Darien comes out at that moment. It is time I had a little fun, I think evilly.
Darien walks toward the corner. Ann waits breathlessly, very breathlessly as I use an energy shield to plaster her to the wall along the sidewalk. Darien is absorbed in reading a textbook and walks right by her. Once he is out of range, and Ann is getting exasperated as she claws the invisible barrier, I drop it. She falls flat on her face. I have a feeling it is going to be a very good day.
Is anyone out there reading? I'd love to hear from you! Stay on for the next chapter J
