AN: I got this out sooner than anticipated. Especially since I had almost no ideas for this chapter at all. Anyways, here it is. Yup and it's going on one a.m. now. Only six hours until I have to get up for church. If I even decide to go that is. Anyways. . . . uhhh, yeah.

Stick your favorite disclaimer here cuz I'm too tired to write one!


Now, on with the chapter!
(warning: It's lengthy and not much happens, but you get to meet four ancients and a new female character. I have yet to introduce my character that everyone is going to really kill me for.)



I looked at my watch again. 4:49 a.m. I had been standing in a damp, fungus-infected cave for the past hour and nineteen minutes.
"Come on! Where are you?" I said, exasperatedly to myself. I looked around impatiently.
"Looking for me?" a female voice called from a shadow behind me. I turned, slowly, trying not to smile.
"What took you so long? You were supposed to meet me at 4:30." I siad, looking into her soft blue eyes. She stepped from the shadows, twirling a strand of her deep black hair around her right index finger.
"Sorry, I got hungry." she said, pulling her hand away from her hair.
"You didn't, did you?"
"What? Kill? No! I stole something from the local slaughter house."
"Okay then. I'm glad you could come on such short notice."
"You kidding, I'd do anything for you."
"Likewise. Now, do you understand the plan?"
"Yes. But let me run it by you to make sure I understand everything. I change my appearance to fit yours and impersonate you while you go back to see the ancients. If anyone discovers me, I'm to abort the mission."
"Exactly. Don't let on that I'm where I'm going to be. The only one you may tell, if he figures it out first, is Tenshi but make sure he tells no one. And, you must give Endymion the cold shoulder, which shouldn't be too hard for you. Alright?"
"Alright."
"Thank you Eternity, my Faith." I said, hugging her.
"Anything for you sis." she replies. Pulling back, I gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"I knew I loved being a triplet!" I smiled, leaving Faith behind to transform her features, actually, just her hair and her tattoo.

"This should do." I mumbled to myself, pulling a dress from the rack of the store. The dress was long, probably down to my ankles. The bottom of the bodice was lined with small pearls and the top formed a 'v', showing off some nice cleavage. It had thin spaghetti straps that criss-crossed in the back, allowing the back of the dress to fall to a low 'v' shape. I smiled, thinking of the impression I would make in this tomorrow night.
I draped the dress around my arm and proceeded to look at everything else in the store, looking specifically for a hooded cloak.
It only took a few minutes to find. It was a silvery-grey color that would go perfectly with the dress.
I pulled the cloak from the rack and proceeded to pay for it and the dress. Yes, tomorrow night's meeting with the ancients would go quite well.

I stepped onto the cool, dew-covered grass with bare feet. I held up my dress, trying not to get it wet, while my cloak trailed freely behind me, its hood hiding my features. It was the middle of the night, no one was out, and yet I still had to hide myself from those who might, by chance, see me. Why, I honestly had no idea, but hey, it's tradition and when it came to dealing with the ancients, I always followed tradition unless otherwise instructed.
I walked through the grass until I came to a small bridge over a flowing stream. Gently, I dipped my foot in, testing its temperature and quickly decided not to walk through it. I quickly stepped over the bridge and onto a smooth, stone path, surrounded by ominous trees. If I hadn't been here before and didn't know what lurked in these woods, I'd be terrified.
I walked about a mile before the trees finally ended and the enormous stone castle could be seen in all its magical glory. The castle itself was centuries old and was, as is used today, a gathering place for magical beings. Vampires, werewolves, witches, you name it, they came. And the best part of it all, is that any human, if they come within a certain amount of distance from the castle, they would find themselves suddenly lost. The castle is undetectable. I guess that's why it's a safe haven for magical beings.
I dropped the hem of my dress, letting it flow to the ground, and walked the short distance to the castle. I stopped just before the chain in front of the moat (what's a castle without a moat?). Two shimmers appeared in front of me and from them, two translucent figures appear in front of me, both male and in very little armor. Nothing but breastplates, guards from the knees down, and a sword on the left sides.
"And who may you be?" one of them asks. I pull my hood back mere centimeters and look up into their eyes, or lack thereof.
"Serenity?" the other asks.
"Hello Dimitrius, Argus." I greeted, pulling my hood back down and looking down from them.
"And what brings you here this evening?" Argus asks.
"I have private business to attend to."
"Oh really? Does it have anything to do with your loverboy?" Dimitrius asks.
"Not anymore." I reply, sadly.
"Oh, well then. I guess we can grant you passage." Argus says, removing the chain that stood in my way. I mumbled a thank you and was on my way, crossing the invisible bridge, a test of courage to those who are new to the folds.
I entered the castle with no other difficulties and headed straight for the throne room where I knew the ancients to be waiting on me.
I came to a pair of giant oak doors with different carving in them. I knocked three times and waited. Moments later, they opened, revealing to me an enormous room lit by candlelight. Two groups were assembled, one on either side of the room, watching and waiting. In front, on four identical thrones, sat the ancients, all hooded. I removed my hood, shaking my long hair free from its confines and allowing it to fall. I lifted the skirt to my dress and began to decend the grand staircase, everyone's eyes on me. I held my head up high, continuing on my path. Whispers were soon heard as I passed by certain clusters of men and women.
I finally reached the bottom of the steps leading up to the ancients and kneeled before them, my head down.
"What is it you wish of?" the smallest one, a mere child compared to the others, asked.
"To speak with the ancients alone and in private." I stated in a clear voice.
"It is granted." the same girl replied. She raised her hand and a bright purple light filled the room. Moments later, when the light had faded, we were alone, the five of us. I released the breath I hadn't realised I had been holding, and stood, looking at the ancients.
"It has been a long time Serenity." the girl said.
"That it has Hotaru. And it is good to see all of you again. Haruka. Michiru. Setsuna." I said, hugging each one individually.
"So what is it that you truely wish?" Hotaru asked.
"As you know already, events in my life have taken a turn for the worse."
"You believe Endymion has betrayed you for another. A mortal no less." Haruka said.
"Yes, after he proposed to you, yet again." Michiru continued.
"I will not stand here and wish for something that I am not entirely sure I wish to possess anymore. I do, however, want to wish for something that I have been trying to cure for myself."
"Your wish is to be cured of your illness so that, if the time arises, you and Endymion may live, as the mortals say, 'happily ever after'?" Setsuna answered for me.
"Yes. I ask you to grant me that one simple wish." They looked at each other, conversing telepathically. I stood, silent, awaiting their decision.
"Serenity, what you ask for . . . . cannot be done."
"WHAT?" I all but scream.
"You must first return to your rightful path before we can grant you that wish." Hotaru answered as the four of them sat down on their thrones.
"But what is my rightful path?"
"That is for you determine." Michiru answers.
"Our work here is done." Haruka says as the four of them disappear in a multicolored cloud of smoke.
Sighing dejectedly, I turn and begin walking out of the castle. I have a plane to catch in about five hours.





Hope you all liked it and Blessed Be to everyone. Oh, and one more thing . . . .REVIEW!!!!!