A hooded figure ran through the streets of Earth

Title: Broom

Genre: I'm going for romance/comedy!!

Author: Muffinhead

Editor: Cinderella

E-mail: dark_angel_314@hotmail.com

Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/plutovision

Chapter One

A hooded figure ran through the streets of Earth.  Her mouth was bloody, her eyes blackened, but no one could see due to the shadows at this late hour. 

            "GET BACK HERE YOU!!" a man's voice screamed.  His wife slowly drew him back inside. 

            "Leave her.  No one will help a bloody little girl who's broken the law…" she said with a smile.

            The man looked back at her, surprised, but a slow grin erased any other emotions on his face.

The girl, after reaching the next town, collapsed in the corner of an alley.  She wasn't concerned of attacker's or thieves; she been through much worse in her life, in this one night.  With a shaky sigh, she leaned her head back, finally letting herself rest.  Her dreams were plagued by tall dark figures though, and as she tossed and turned, her hood slowly slipped off.

"Well, what have we got here?" a rough voice sneered.  The sound of it rose Serenity from her sleep.  Without opening her eyes, she could sense danger.  Slitting her eyes so that she could just barely see out, she saw her adversaries' positions.  Surprisingly though, they didn't look like the normal hairy thugs.

            The first man continued to speak, apparently the leader.  "Hey.  You, girl!  Wake up!"

            Serenity was surrounded by a number of men, and so decided to comply.  Feigning grogginess, she slowly opened her eyes with a yawn.  "What?  Who are you?"

            A second man snorted.  "I think you know.  Come on, let's take her in, she's obviously who we're looking for."

            Serenity's eyes widened slightly.  'Take her in'?  Uh oh, this was not sounding good.  "I didn't do anything!"

            The first man laughed, "Listen to the innocent little girl.  She didn't do anything!  C'mon guys, lets leave her alone."  His obvious jeering of her made Serena's blood boil.

            Without an indication, she kicked one leg up into one man's stomach; the other into number two's…um, sensitive area.  Both men stumbled back, number two even collapsing.  Before any of the others could respond, she leapt up and ran through the slight opening to the street.  One man got in her way, and she took him out with a single punch.

            She turned right into a crowded street, all (well, most) of the men coming after her.  Her cloak streaming behind her, she took another right onto a less crowded street.  Uh-oh…she took a left, and now she didn't know where was.  She glanced behind her.  The men were gaining.  She took a left and kept running through a market, cutting through buyers and sellers alike.  The men were still gaining, their path easier.  They just bowled anyone over that got in their way.  During the second she'd turned her head around to look, she crashed into something tall and hard.  She lay sprawled in the middle of the street for a brief moment before a soft, warm hand touched her own.

He glanced down at the slight form, buried by a large expanse of cloth.  A cloak, he assumed.  The person had crashed right into his horse.

            Endymion lifted the cloak off of her slim body and gently touched her hand.  She gave a soft groan.

            "Are you alright?  Do you need a doctor?" he asked, concerned.

            Her brilliant blue eyes suddenly blinked open, and she sprung up.  "No! Thanks!" she replied, already running away.

            The men (who were actually guards) came upon Endymion just then.  "Your Highness!  Why did you let her go!" said Guard #1, bowing down.

            Endymion frowned.  "Who?"

            Guard #2 stood up, limping slightly.  "The girl!  She's assaulted the Royal Guard," he stated with something that resembled a pout.

            "Can't the Royal Guard protect itself from a little girl?" Endymion asked politely with an undercurrent of something else in his tone.

Guard 2 shifted uncomfortably.  "Do we have permission to continue?" #1 asked, clearing his throat.

            "Proceed."  The guards sprang from their positions to capture the girl.  Who is she? Endymion thought to himself.  Deciding to find out, he mounted his horse, and began down a short cut, if this girl was going where he thought she was.

Serenity ran, dropping the cloak in favor of speed.  She was going full-throttle when all of a sudden, that guy popped out of nowhere.  "Ahhh!!!" she yelped in surprise.  She stopped dead as to not crash into his horse once again.

            "Are you alright?  What did they do to you?" he asked, dismounting.

            Serenity had just begun to reply, when the guards finally caught up (AN- they're too fat) and seized her.

            "Hey!  Let go!" she said, struggling.

            "Bow down before his highness!" #1 demanded pushing her to her knees.

            Dropping down, she glanced up sharply at the guy…no, not just a guy, a prince!  "I didn't do anything, now release me," she said angrily, chin stuck out.

            Endymion bit his tongue to keep from laughing.  The guards looked angry and a bit confused.  This young spitfire had managed to escape and confuse the stupid oafs in a matter of minutes.  She at least deserved a chance to explain herself.  "You heard the girl.  Release her."

            The guards, confused but used to obeying their young prince, let her go.  She quickly stood up, brushing herself off.  "Thank you, your highness," she said politely, and quickly began walking away.

            The guards just stood there, their jaws slack.  "Well, what are you waiting for, get back to work!" Endymion snapped.  They scurried off like little insects.  He sighed, mounted his stallion again, and went down the path that girl had taken.

Serenity paused, leaning against the side of a house.  Where was she?  Maybe she should have asked for directions before she left.  Ha, that's a good one, asking a prince for directions.

But she couldn't go home, not that she ever had one.  When she was a baby, somebody who didn't want her dropped her off on another's front step.  Those people didn't want her either, and after three exchanges, she'd ended up with the Scotts'.  The mother was a sharp-tongued, horrible person, but even worse was Mr. Scott.  He beat her up sometimes, but last night had been the worst.  Her eye was puffy, and her lips were split from his fist. No one ever wanted her…Ok, stop the pity party, she told herself sternly.

            Just then, she heard the sound of horse hooves approaching her.  She turned her head slightly from its leaning position in time to see Prince Endymion coming.  What did I do this time? She groaned mentally.

            She stood motionless as he walked up to her.

He smirked a little.  This young slip of a girl wasn't even going to bow, was she?  She was incredibly beautiful, he could admit.  She unconsciously straightened up slightly and turned toward him.  But as he got a chance to study her, he winced.  Before, there hadn't been enough time to really take in her features.

            Someone had hurt her.  Badly.  Even he could see that.  Her lips were split and slightly swollen, as was her black eye.  The black was almost gone, as though it had first appeared a couple of weeks ago.  The other eye had a long but shallow cut underneath.  Finally, her neck was completely bruised, as is someone had…

            No!  Who could have done this?  He had reached her by now.

What was he doing? Serenity thought nervously.  He was gazing intensely at her as he walked towards her.  When he finally got there, she was undeniably nervous.  "Um…sir?  Is something wrong?" she said nervously.

            Without responding, he raised his arm and let his fingers lightly dance on the cut underneath her eye.  She bowed her head.  She didn't want pity, she just wanted freedom.

            "Who did this to you?" he asked hoarsely, brushing his hand against her other eye.

            She paused.  "…Just some guy," she whispered.

He cringed for her.  For her silence, for her shame, and most for her pain.  "Why don't you come with me and someone can look at those for you?" he said, letting his fingers brush against her swelled lips.

            She shivered slightly from his touch and his words, and tried to back away.  Only the wall met her back.  "I don't need help, I don't need anything from anyone!" she whispered, trying to make her voice angry.  But she was too startled and unprepared from his gentle attack.

            Endymion bit his lip.  "I'm not trying to give you charity.  But if you want a place to stay…"

            Usually, Serenity wasn't someone with a ridiculous amount of pride, but something about this guy brought out the worst in her.  "I can take care of myself, thank you very much."  With that, she ducked under his arm and began to walk away.

            "Hey, wait!"  His hand grabbed at her wrist.  She turned to see his pleading eyes, colour of the deep ocean.

            She sighed.  "If you want, you can stay with me tonight."  No way he does that, she thought to herself.  Although it would be interesting…

            Endymion stared at her.  Was she crazy?  He wouldn't do that…that's why she did it, another part of him cried.  He smirked a little.  If this girl thought she was fooling him… "I would be most honored to accompany you tonight," he said charmingly.

            "Alright," Serenity said…wait a minute, what did he say?  Did he just say YES?!  That wasn't part of the plan!

            Endymion smirked as realization dawned in her eyes.  No matter what, this will be a night to remember.

            Serenity began to walk down the street.  "You coming?" she tossed over her shoulder.  He looked up with a cocky grin.

            "I'm up for it if you are."

            When Endymion had caught up, she smiled a little.  "So, what's your name anyways?"

            Endymion gaped.  This had to be the strangest encounter he'd ever had.  She found out that I'm a prince already and she still doesn't know my name??

            In response to her question, he replied, "It's Endymion.  You?"

            She hesitated.  What should I say?  "Well, my name's Serenity, but no one calls me that," she said with an uncomfortable laugh.

            "Why not?"  She turned to look at him.  His eyes gazed back with blazing intensity.  When she turned back awkwardly, he dropped the subject.

            "So where are we going, anyways?" he asked, glancing warily around.  The prince of Earth did not just wander around the streets at night.

            She smirked up at him.  "I dunno.  Here looks good."  She turned into a random shop door.

            He glared at her.  "Ooh, very scientific."  He followed her through the entrance, into a…karaoke bar?!  "What the…"

            She giggled at him and walked up to the bartender.  "Hi, sir, me and my friend…Darien," she said, lamely winking at Endymion. "…were wondering if you maybe had a place we could stay tonight?" she finished, batting her eyelashes.

            Endymion thought it was barf-tacular, but the bartender bought it.  "Sure, but there is a price…" He better not be coming on to her, Endymion thought murderously.

            "And that price would be?" Serenity said sweetly.

            The bartender smiled appealingly.  "You merely have to sing a song of your choice, any song will do."

            Endymion paled.  "I'm not doing that!"

            Serenity glanced back with a mocking smile.  "I will.  Where do I go?"

            The bartender pointed them in the direction of the stage.  Serenity grabbed Endymion's hand and dragged him along.  The strange thing was, he didn't feel any flash of annoyance, just warmth coming from her hand.  What was this girl doing to him?

Serenity laughed a bit as she pulled Endymion, or 'Darien' towards the stage.  Maybe princes weren't as bad as I thought, she mused.  After all, Endymion was allowing himself to be dragged around a bar and seemed pretty ok with it.

            His voice interrupted her thoughts.  "Hey, I'm not going up there!"

            She spun around.  "Well, fine then.  I'll just go by myself, you go sit down."

            Sighing and shaking his head, he obliged.  Serenity went up to the organizer beside the small platform.  "Hi, I'm…Serena…and the bartender told me that my friend and I could stay here tonight if I sang something."

            The bulky guy gave her a once-over and ushered her up just as the other person was finishing.  "What??  But I'm not ready!" she cried.

            "Well, get ready, cause you're on," the man said irritably.

            Serenity stumbled onstage while the guy pushed a microphone into her hand.  She stood there for a moment, before she remembered what she was doing.  She was singing, which was what she'd always wanted to do.  She cleared her throat lightly, and spoke into the microphone.  "Hi everyone…"  When nothing but a few belches and cricket chirrups responded, she raised her eyebrows and decided to go right o the song.

They say this love wasn't meant to be
Two people from two different worlds, we wasn't to be

While Serenity sang, she stared into Endymion's eyes.  They were from different worlds, but somehow, they were making it work.  He was a prince, and she was living on the streets, but they were friends.


It must have been fate, you were sent to me
We'll make it through these hard times eventually
We'll stand and fight, walk by faith not by sight
We all the same color when you turn out the lights

She had written this song a year or so ago; she loved to write music and sing.  It was the only way people could see anything about her besides her dirty clothes and pretty face.

I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you

As the last notes faded away there was complete silence throughout the room.  Everyone was perfectly silent and still.  Was I really that bad? Serenity wondered.  She timidly handed the microphone back to the man and walked of stage when all of a sudden…

            "WHOO!!"

            "YEAH!!"

            "ENOCORE!!"

            "MARRY ME!!"

            The last one saying was shouted by a seventy-year old man.  The whole bar had burst out clapping and whistling for her.  Serenity, with wide eyes, quickly walked over to the table Endymion was sitting at.

            He gazed at her intently.  "What are you looking at?" she said with a nervous giggle.

            "You never told me you were an angel."  That had to be the smoothest, slickest pick-up line ever uttered.  She blushed, and sat down beside him.  The next person come on, but most of the people there that night still had Serenity's voice in their mind.

"So, where are we sleeping?" Serenity (oh...whoops… 'Serena').

            "What do you mean, 'we'?" the bartender muttered, glaring darkly at Endy…uh, that is, Darien.

            'Serena' shifted uncomfortably.  "Well, uh, you said that if we sang, we could stay here."

            He nodded.  "Exactly.  And since only one of you sang, I'm afraid I can only offer one bed."

            "…No way!"

"…I can't believe I'm doing this!"

            "Quiet, I'm trying to get some sleep over here."

            "-with a guy I hardly know…"

            "Would you shut up already?"

            "-and a Prince no less!"

            "Honestly, don't you ever stop talking??"

            "If you had just sung in the first place…"

            "Yeah, right"

            "-Then I wouldn't be trapped in a smelly, scratchy bed with…"

            "BE QUIET!"

            "Have a good sleep, Endy."

            Serenity's soft snores followed quickly, but now Endymion couldn't sleep.  *Did she just call me…Endy??*

To Be Continued…

Mua ha ha..yes, I know, not much of a cliffhanger, but this is my first fanfic (well, that's the story I'm sticking to).  Anyways, the next part will be done really soon!  Gotta get them smoochin' ya know!!

Oh yeah, the song Serenity sings is from the Save The Last Dance soundtrack.  The song's by Fredro Starr feat. Jill Scott.  You should totally go out and buy the sondtrack and the movie because they both kick butt!

Muffinhead

Stupid Rap Quotes:

"Special girl, real good girl- biggest thing in my itty bitty world." --- Q-Tip