Another Time Chapter 1
by Sailor Vega
calli_thaala@yahoo.com
~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}

Non story stuff:


OK! I need to correct something from the beginning of the 1st chapter of this fanfic. You do NOT have to read any other story of mine because I am only writing two others, both of which are just begun! This takes place during the Sailor Moon R series when Rini is there. So just ignore what it said about some other fanfic I wrote... I wasn't in my head when I typed that part! Gomen! Oh, and Lancelot is 23 like Arthur and Darien, and the other knights are about the same age! Many of the ladies are about the girls age or a little older!
OK! I know it's been a LONG time since I last wrote anything (other than that little Author's Notes.) so I felt compelled to write this. Actually, I got home today after a terrible Algebra II exam feeling inspired to write part of this story (stop giving me funny looks, Tenchi!) OK... back to what I was saying! Sorry it took so long to get this out and all. The following are accepted: questions, comments, flames, money, flowers, chocolates, candy.... *L* send all that stuff to calli_thaala@yahoo.com. So... here's the story! So, without further ado, I present to you Another Time: Chapter 2
*denotes thought*
{denotes action}
"denotes speech"
~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@} Pretty Page Break
~~denotes specifics of scene change~~
(denotes something the author says to YOU, my DEAR reader!)
%%denotes flash back%%

~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}
~~SERENA'S ROOMS~~

"Serena!" Raye exploded. "What did he do to deserve THAT?!" Serena winced at her friend's words, knowing there was no explanation that would placate the fiery-tempered girl before her. She instead, much to the others' surprise, merely hung her head, preparing for the barrage from Raye that would surely come. Raye, sensing this was a serious matter, did not attack her friend. With a look, she motioned the others, including Guinevere, to come with her and leave Serena to her thoughts. Once outside of Serena's chamber, Raye turned to Guinevere for an explanation. "OK, what happened back there?" she demanded to know. "This is NOT at all normal Serena behavior!" "Well," started Guinevere hesitantly, "it's a long story..." "And we've got the time, so spill it!" Lita snapped. Guinevere recoiled from this unexpected outburst by Lita, but began speaking. "Well, as you can guess, it started when we entered the throne room..."
~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}
%%FLASH BACK%%

Serena and Guinevere waited outside the throne room, eager to hear what the king would tell them. Soon, but not soon enough it seemed, the large oak doors were opened, and they were announced. "Her Royal Highness, Princess Serenity of the Lunarian Kingdom, Lady Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot." Upon hearing these familiar words, Serena entered. It was amazing. The entire room seemed to glitter as if it were made of real gold. She could feel the spell that covered it's true look, but it was breath taking nonetheless. The curtains that hung along the walls were a beautiful, deep purple with gold tassels along the edges. The room was lit with many candles in gold holders that were secured to the wall, but seemed to float out as if to greet them. The floor was white stone which looked gold under the enchantment. There was a wide carpet of the same color as the curtains running from the doorway in which the trio stood to the throne, which it then circled. There were two areas off to the sides where ladies and lords might sit in and listen to the happenings of the kingdom. Behind the throne was an area where the knights stood as if at attention, ready to attend to their king's slightest whim. But by far the most remarkable part of the entire room was the throne itself. Made of pure gold and decorated with many precious stones, it was a true work of art. Any king, *or queen* Serena reminded herself, would die to sit in such a richly decorated throne room. She felt envious of Guinevere for getting that privilege, but the feeling quickly passed. As she was walking up the carpet, she noticed a very familiar person standing next to the king. (can we guess who THAT is?!) Serena froze in midstep, but quickly resumed her walk forward. At the appropriate distance, Serena stopped and turned her eyes away from the man who had caught her attention and focused back on King Arthur. He started out telling her and Guinevere how glad he was of their safe journey here, how glad he was Serena had been found, how glad he was that they were here... *I think he is glad about too many things!* Serena thought, and then had to fight to suppress a giggle. She tuned back in just in time to hear the king say "... and I am sure his highness, Prince Endymion here will be honored to show you around the castle." Serena looked at King Arthur with shock written clear across her face. "Princess, is there anything WRONG?" Darien asked, his voice full of condescending sarcasm. Serena turned to glare at Darien before addressing the king. "Your highness, if it is possible, might I have a different escort? This one {gesturing to Darien} and I don't get along at ALL." Many of the lords and ladies present started whispering among themselves, until finally the king raised his hand. "I will permit you to choose a different escort, but first you must give me a reason as to why Prince Endymion will not do." Serena hesitated before speaking again. "As I have mentioned, he and I don't get along..." She was interrupted by Darien, who came down and kissed her hand, much to her embarrassment. "Serenity and I were betrothed, your highness." he said, stunning the audience into silence. "But I took it upon myself to get the betrothal annulled. (can you do that?!) This is why her highness and I don't get along, your majesty." With that Darien turned and resumed his place beside the king. After a few moments of silence, Serena quietly spoke. "You never did tell me why..." It broke his heart to see her like this, but there wasn't a thing he could do about it, not if he wanted to keep her safe. "I don't care for you, Serenity. I never did. I did not want to be married to someone I could not love." Serena could feel the tears forming in her eyes, but denied to herself their existence. "Then why did you come all those times to visit? Why did we go riding and walking and all those things together? Why, if you didn't love me?!" Darien turned away slightly so he could not see her. "I never wanted to hurt you, highness. I was only doing those things because my parents expected me to. It's not as if I was doing them to break your heart or anything, though I guess it DID have that affect. But then again, what do you know? You are just a young, beautiful princess, nothing more, nothing less. You were tricked by your blindness to the obvious into believing we would fall in love. We never could love one another, you and I. We are too different. In your na•vetŽ you failed to notice that. You are as beautiful as a newly bloomed spring rose, but you, like that rose, will soon lose your beauty, and then nothing will be left but an empty shell. THAT is why, Princess, I chose NOT to marry you." Everyone in the throne room was shocked at the Prince's speech. Silently, Serena walked up to Darien, looked him in the eye for a moment, and then...

%%END OF FLASH BACK%%
~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}

"... and then she slapped him... and you saw from there." Guinevere finished. No one spoke for a moment out of pure shock. Finally, Mina spoke softly. "I didn't know Darien had it in him to be so mean..." The others nodded their agreement. "What will we do about this?" Guinevere asked. "We cannot let this go! It must have been terrible for her to have been thus insulted! We MUST do SOMETHING!" (I love that line! I saw the new Star Wars movie twice already! I LOVE it when Queen Amidala says that! Er... Back to the story!) "Yeah!" exclaimed Lita, jumping up. "I'm gonna go pulverize him!" She started to leave, much to Guinevere's distress, but Amy reached out and grabbed Lita's arm. "Wait, Lita." Amy said. "There has to be a better way..." "There is." Raye stated. All eyes turned to her, eager to hear her solution to all of this. "Tell me, Guinevere, do not knights joust for the honor of ladies?" Guinevere smiled, seeing what Raye was thinking, and nodded. "Aye, they do." "And Guinevere, do you think Sir Lancelot would be willing to joust against Prince Endymion to preserve the most exquisite Serenity's blemished honor?" Guinevere's eyes sparkled. "Aye, I think he would!" "So Let's ask him!" Mina exclaimed, jumping up and darting out the door, followed closely by Lita. Raye, Amy, and Guinevere exchanged looks between themselves and got up to save Lancelot from the Jovian and Venetian ladies who moments ago departed from their presence.

~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}~~~~~~`,~~~~{@}
Well, that's it for chapter 2! What do you think? Send all comments, flames, ideas, etc. to calli_thaala@yahoo.com Thanks!