Hey people, sorry I took so long in getting this back, just read the chap, there is a longer AN at the bottom.
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A Painful Life- The Story of Serenity
Chapter One- Reunions
"It has been a long while since I last laid eyes on you, my granddaughter," said the Goddess Selene.
She and Serenity stared at one another, each wanting to say something, but both knowing all that had been worth saying, had been said long ago.
It was Rini that finally ended the uncomfortable silence, by wiggling out of her mother's arms, and then ran to stand in front of the Goddess. The little girl looked up into Selene's face, and asked, "If you're Mommy's Grandmother, then doesn't that make you my Great-Grandmother?"
Before Serenity could reach out and reclaim her child, Selena nealed down and patted Rini on the head. "Yes I am Little One, so that would make you my great-granddaughter."
She smiled at the little girl that looked like the spitting image of her mother, with the exception of her pink hair. Then, while giving Rini a hug, Selene looked at Serenity coolly, who in turn was staring at her with seemingly indifference.
They stared at each other again, one pair of eyes curious and searching for an answer, the other pair bitter, cold, and emanating hatred.
Selene returned her look with one of superiority, and spoke once more, " I see that you not yet decided to end this silly family feud, and get over the past. It was a long time ago, a couple thousand years in fact."
"I see no reason to end this "silly feud" as you so lightly put it," Serenity answered coldly, " For it is not "silly" at all. You abandoned your family, my mother and my father, in place they had never been before. You betrayed your own blood, all for the chance of becoming Kami-sama's, or should I say Mithros' permanent lover. Which, by the way, did you ever manage to accomplish?"
Selene glared at her, and Serenity knew her answer, he hadn't. He must have seen her for the backstabbing liar she was. Good, she didn't' deserve him anyway.
"Well come with me then, there has to be a reason that you came to see me willingly. Mithros knows I wouldn't," Selene bit out bossily, and turned to stand back in front of the portal.
Serenity had since then taken back Rini, and took one last look at her home, and then followed Selene towards the portal. They all came to stand in front of it, side by side, in a line. The Goddess began a slow chant, the incantation for the portal to do her bidding, and relunctently, Serenity joined in. A bright white light filled the space, like before, and the trio suddenly dissapeared to a place that one of them had never been to, and the other hadn't been to in a long, long while.
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When the three of them stepped out of the portal, their ears were filled with the sound of beauty, birds singing, wind softly blowing, laughter filling the air, and a sense of all around peace. You couldn't imagine a more gorgeous place, even in the deepest depth of your wildest dreams. It was a magnificent city, sprinkled with temples and shrines, all dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses, each having their own respective followers protecting their entrence gates.
There was also a market place, filled to every corner with very rich looking foods, that just made your mouth water in anticipation of have a bite.
Rini took in everything she could, eyes wide and staring, never having seen such fine things. Sure she lived in the richest and gentlest kingdom of her dimension, but it was almost plain compared to this utopia of grandness.
Serenity, on the other hand, looked at everything around her with a look of distaste and loathing. It was all familiar to her, the food, the temples and shrines, market place. It was her old home, from so long ago.
Selene had had enough of walking, it would take them forever to reach where they were going by foot anyway, so she stopped abruptly in the middle of a marble road. Turning back around to look at her "companions", she rolled her eyes at them. Unusual behavior for a Goddess, but she could act much worse if the houmour seized her.
"Well, quit standing around and gawking, its not like you have never been here before Serenity," the Goddess sneered and continued, " If we are to reach my Contiothora anytime soon, then we'd best teleport there now. And don't look at me as if you have no idea what I am talking about! You are a Demi-Goddess after all, you can do some magic!"
Serenity rolled her eyes at this, her "grandmother" obviously had no idea what her granddaughter had been through all these past thousands of years. She still thought that she was but an insolent child. Selene also must have had no idea exactly who Serenity's grandfather was, at least not as much as she should have. She had just fallen for a pretty face.
Putting Rini down, her arms were beginning to hurt anyway, she closed her eyes and focused on her crystal, to give her extra power. Together they began the same chant, only faster, as the one they had used to open the portal to this place.
There wasn't a bright while light this time, not even a sound, the trio just disappeared without a trace. Nobody anywhere near them gave any sign as to noticing anything out of the oridanary, because it wasn't, this was the Land of the Gods, after all.
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"Wow...where are we? Is this what the after-life looks like?" asked an astounded little Rini, as soon as they reappeared in a gigantic marble castle. It was nothing like the little girl had ever seen before, even her home palace wasn't this big and as beautiful as this one was. She wondered what else this new "world" had to offer. It was already so new and amazing to her, she wondered why she had never been here before. Ah, to be young and naive.
"Welcome, to my Contiothora, or should I say, Serenity, welcome home," announced Selene grandly, always in the mood to show off.
Serenity rolled her eyes for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day, and answered," This isn't my home anymore, it hasn't been for a long, long time. It never will be again."
"Whatever you say, dear, but follow me anyway. I shall show you to your rooms, and after the both of you have had some rest, you and I shall talk.
Then Selene started walking towards an elegant looking staircase, that led them up to the second floor. They turned left and walked down a corridor, that stopped at pearl colored double doors. The Goddess opened the doors and beckoned them in, and they followed her.
The inside of the room was done in complete Lunarian style, and Serenity just knew it was her mother's old room. Serenity could remember when her Nana had told her stories of her mother when she was a little girl. Her Nanny had said that when her mother lived here, there were only two places in Leandoria, The Realm of the Gods, she had ever loved. This was one of them.
"Well, I shall let you get settled in, and in the meantime I will show Rini to her room. It is right across from yours, so you two can be close, if need be. After a while, you and I shall talk, for there must be some reason that you came to this place willingly. To see me willingly, I do believe that you must be in some trouble," Selene sneered again.
She took Rini's small hand in hers, and together they walked out of the room, with Rini asking question upon question about her "new home."
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" I can't believe I came here, I can't believe that I didn't even have the choice. How could we have been so unprepared, and on one of the most important days of my life. We should have been ready, or at least been on alert! Things had been too quiet that day, and we hadn't any enemies since the Black Moon Family!" at this, Serenity began to silently cry, still ranting to herself, " I can still remember how it happened, only four days ago...we were so unprepared..."
*****************Flash Back******************************
"Do you, Princess Serenity Sikumi Lorianthia Ceoloria Lunaria I, swear upon the Moon, that when you become Queen of the Moon Kingdom. That you will rule with an honest hand, listen to your people, never turn a deaf ear to the weak, and raise your daughter in the ways of the Lunarians? To protect this Universe from all evil, and even of those thought not evil? Do you promise to love and cherish every living being, stay true to your soul mate and family? Do you, Serenity-hime-sama swear on oath to all of these things, till death parts you?" the Moon Priest asked her, using the ancient Coronation Ceremony initiation process.
Serenity had tears of happiness in her eyes, she would finally be able to restore the Moon Kingdom to what it had once been, so long ago. She would make her mother proud, as she had wanted to do for so very long. She answered with the phrase that was required as part of the Oath.
" I, Princess Serenity Sikumi Lorianthia Ceoloria Lunaria I, swear upon the Moon and my honor, to answer each and every one of these responsibilities with readiness, love, acceptance, care, and joy. I shall always remain faithful to my soul mate, until Death parts us, to my Kingdom, my people, and my family. If I ever dishonor any of these requirements as a Queen, then on my honor I will do the according, and step down as Queen of the Moon, and Universe. This is my Oath to the Moon, and I shall keep it for Eternity."
The Moon Priest smiled and then announced to the watching people and to Serenity, "Then as is my duty, I now pronounce you, no longer Princess, but Queen Serenity Sikumi Lorianthia Ceoloria Lunaria I, ruler of the Moon Kingdom, and all of this universe," then turning to the people completely he shouted, "LONG LIVE THE NEW QUEEN!"
The watching Lunarians, and other races of the Solar System, began to clap and yell loudly. All were happy and joyous, it was a time for celebration. They no longer had to be scared and alert at every minute, for now they would be protected by their Queen and her guards. This would once again be the most peaceful and joyous Kingdom in the Universe.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * End Flash Back * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
"Everyone thought that we would have everlasting peace, just because I was Queen. I had naively enough, thought so too. Thought that I could make all the worlds a better place, restore from what Chaos had done." she said sarcastically to the ceiling, laying eagle spread on the bed, "How could I have been so naive!? Why weren't we ready!"
Serenity continued to cry, crying for all the lives that had sacrificed themselves for her, for her lost kingdom, and most of all, at her stupidity.
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Selene quietly walked in her daughters room, a place she never came anymore, and looked at her sleeping granddaughter. She came closer and saw that her eyes were clenched shut, with tear streaks staining her face, and she was lightly tossing her head back and forth. It was as if she were having a bad dream, and Selene supposed she was.
The Goddess also noticed what she had ignored when the duo had first called upon her. There were cuts, bruises, gashes, mud, and blood all over her body. On her cheek there was a especially bloody gash, that started at the left side of her forehead, at her hairline, and went across her face in a diagonal rugged streak. There would be a scar there for life. How could she have been so blind? She had only been thinking about how stupid her daughter had been, when she and Selene parted, so long ago. All because of "him", Mithros.
"How could I have been so naive?" she asked herself, unknowingly repeating the same thing that Serenity had said herself earlier.
Selene sighed and looked at her granddaughter once more, deciding that, if anything, she could at least heal the girl. The younger woman was too weak to do it herself, anyhow.
Selene place her hands up over the demi-Goddess' mangled body, and closed her eyes tightly. Drawing upon her dark silver magic, she sent energy and healing into Serenity's body, healing her almost instantly. She was right, there was a scar on Serenity's face, marring her otherwise flawless skin.
The Goddess stood, and nodded to herself, it was a start in what she hoped would be a road to forgiveness. She decided that she would be the one to take the first step in forgiving, or asking forgiveness, and hope that Serenity would do the same.
Turning, she walked out of the room, after taking one last look at her beloved granddaughter, with the look of love she had first allowed herself when they had met each other at the portal.
Sighing again, she spoke aloud to herself, " Well Selene, tomorrow is always another day. I guess she and I can talk later, she needs to rest," and then walked out of the room to think about a few things.
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Sorry if that totally sucked, I had a hard time writing this chap, so many little things to fill in. I know exactly how I want the plot to turn out, but there are just the little things along the way, that is the hardest to write. Anyway, here are a couple of things that need to be dealt with first, so here we go.
First here is a list of thanks to all my reviewers:
Crystal-Serenity- I am glad you like it! Sorry, but all I can tell you now, is that the Tortallans don't "hate" the Lunarians exactly. You just have to keep reading to find out! It is all going to go with the plot, so please just be patient and wait!
Rheia- I like your stories too! You rock as a writer! Sorry I took so long, ya know how it is. Thanks for your review!!
Raye- Is it really only the second one you have seen? Wow, so I can be original after all! But like I told Crystal-Serenity, you're just going to have to read to find out!
Lady of Tirragen and Senshi of Mercury- I'm incredibly sorry you fill that way, but it's called freedom of speech, so I can write this if I want to. If you don't like, then don't read it. Simple, really.
Usagi-hime- Sorry about all the commas and stuff! Is this chapter better?? I will strive to make it so! LOL, thanks for the review!
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Next- Who do y'all want Serenity to end up with? I have an idea, but it is all up to the readers. And I won't have to make it up as I go along, cause I kinda have and idea for each of these pairings. I just need your votes! Here are the choices...
Serenity/Joren Serenity/Neal Serenity/Dom Serenity/OC Serenity/Roald Serenity/Jasson Serenity/Liam Serenity/No One
It is all up to y'all, so start voting now! There won't be any romance till later though, just to warn all of you romantics out there!
Well, that is about all there is to say for now, except please review!! Also, I promise to have chapter two up waaaaaay quicker than I had this one!! Promise!!!! Bye!!!
