Another World
Chapter 3 - Further Developments
Serena felt something tickle at her nose. She wiped it away, but it came back insistently. She swiped at it again, but it came back. She slowing opened her eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. Venus was staring down at her, holding the incriminating feather in one hand. "Um," she said, shoving the feather behind her back.
Serena groaned, slowly sitting up. "What do you want, Venus?"
Venus looked nervously at the other senshi, who were gathered around her. "Um, why don't you guys tell her," she suggested, slipping behind them.
"Why do we always have to face her wrath?" Jupiter grumbled. "It's not fair. One of these days, I'm going to get singed."
Serena glanced at each of them, feeling suspicious already. "Tell me what?"
The room remained silent before Mars sighed with irritation (and a bit of fear) and stepped forward. "Serena, your mother wanted us to tell you something."
"Tell me what?" Serena repeated, feeling a little afraid. Her mother's news had exactly been the best these past few days.
"Well, tell her Merc," Mars said, hastily shoving Mercury forward.
"Ah, well, you see, due to the various implications and repercussions of your current arrangements, some things must be *ahem* speeded up."
Serena stared blankly at Mercury, having been lost since the word 'implications'. "Um, what?"
"Your mother wants you to be married by next week! Jeez, people!" Mars cried, throwing her hands in the air.
Serena sat there for a minute, staring straight ahead with her mouth hanging open slightly. "What . . ." she whispered hoarsely.
The senshi looked guiltily at each other. They really, really wished Queen Serenity could find someone else to tell Serena all of this bad news.
Serena remained motionless on the bed. Mars slowly sat next to her, waiting for the inevitable explosion. Still, nothing. "Serena, I'm sorry," she whispered, slowly resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Please leave." The sudden words from Serena's lips caused them to back up a step. The words were cold, lifeless.
"Serena . . ." Mars trailed off.
"Please," Serena said again.
The senshi went silently out the door. Serena waited a few minutes to make sure they were really gone before she began to cry. She would be married, not in less than a year, but in less than a week. With that thought, she threw herself onto her pillow and let the sobs wrack through her.
*
Endymion swung his sword in a high arc, only to be met with Nephrite's own blade. They each struggled to gain control by pushing harder, but neither one could win. They jumped apart and immediately began clashing their blades together before Nephrite disarmed Endymion when he made a careless move.
"Endymion, your mind isn't in this. You should have beaten Nephrite easily," Kunzite said, taking his usual position of leader.
Nephrite wrinkled hi nose at Kunzite. "Thanks a lot, Kunz."
Endymion looked down at the ground, breathing hard. It was true; he usually did beat Nephrite in swordplay, and definitely never lost after only one minute of sparring. But it was hard to concentrate on much of anything since he'd heard the news. They were going to be married within the week. He could hardly believe it.
His friends knew what had happened and why he couldn't concentrate. They felt bad, but also knew that was the life of a prince. To serve the people in any way you could.
"Have you talked to her today?" Jadeite asked, his normally joking voice now serious and concerned.
He shook his head slightly. "No. I don't want to see her. She's probably broken up about this."
"Who knows? Maybe she's happy about it. You know how girls are," Kunzite suggested, trying to make him feel better.
"Not this girl. She's waiting for her prince charming, you can tell just by looking at her. And I," he stated, "Am no Prince Charming."
Nephrite spoke up, finishing cleaning his blade. "I think you should go talk to her. You two need each other more than ever now."
Endymion considered this. Nephrite had always had an almost supernatural view of the future, and his advice was not to be taken lightly. "Ok, I'll talk to her," he relented. "But if she tries to kill me, you guys are to blame."
They wished him luck, and he left for Serena. Maybe she really is happy, he thought. I don't want to make her suffer.
*
He walked up to her door and tapped lightly on it.
"Go away," she sobbed, her voice muffled by something.
He slowly swung the door open and walked into the room. She was lying facedown on her bed, her face in her arms. He crept up to the side of her bed, looking down at her. She was shaking from crying. He perched himself at the edge of her bed, unsure of what to do.
Eventually, she wiped her eyes on her sleeve and looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and her face was pale except for the tip of her nose, which was bright red. He looked into her blood-shot eyes, and was distressed to find nothing but sadness.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice shaky.
He regarded her a moment. "Sorry for what?" His voice was equally low, but even.
"That you're stuck with me. That in a few days, we'll both be trapped forever in a loveless marriage."
He gazed at her intently. "Is that really what you think?"
She looked down and refused to speak. He continued anyways. "Listen, this may not be our decision, but we can still make the best of it. We could be friends."
Her gaze flicked up to him. "You're . . . you're not mad?" she asked in a small voice.
He tried to smile, but failed when her looked into her watery eyes. "Of course not. It's neither of our faults, right?"
She gave him a wavering smile. "Right."
He smiled, a real smile this time, and pulled her to her feet. "Let's go do something."
She laughed. "Like what? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm still in my bedclothes."
He glanced at her. He hadn't even noticed the frilly nightgown she was wearing. "Well, get changed then, and we can do whatever you want."
She smiled genuinely. "You're on, but I hope you can keep up," she teased.
*
Endymion waited outside of Serena's room. He had been for the past fifteen minutes, waiting for her to get ready. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. I hope it's not going to be like this every morning, he reflected. The thought surprised him. He had already begun adjusting to the thought of waking up next to her every morning, and going to sleep with her every night.
Just then, the door swung open, and Serena strode out. She was clad in riding pants, a simple blouse, and boots.
"What are you wearing?" he said incredulously.
She tossed a smirk at him. "What does it look like I'm wearing? We're going riding. I haven't been able to since we got here."
He was still staring at her, so she began to walk off. "I hope you're not this slow on horse-back, or you definitely won't be able to keep up."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
*
"Yee-haw!" Serena shouted, reveling in the rush of the wind around her. She leaned forward and urged her mare even faster. They pounded down the beaten dirt path, forestry rushing by on either side.
"What are you, crazy? Slow down!" Endymion called up to her, galloping his own stallion alongside her.
Serena's mount was a vivid bay mare, perfect for Serena's slight frame but spirited enough for a challenge. Endymion's was a tall liver chestnut he'd had for a few years. They galloped together down the winding dirt path, each racing for the lead. Finally, they emerged out of the shaded woods onto a path with level fields on either side.
Suddenly, Endymion saw a small log a ways up the trail. It was about three feet high, so his slowed his mount to a slow canter. Serena didn't seem to notice it though, as she galloped full-speed ahead.
He called out for her to stop, but she crouched lower, straightened her legs, and leapt over the log with flawless grace.
He grinned and shook his head. Sometimes, this girl was unbelievable. He watched her land on the other side, when suddenly her horse reared up. Serena went flying into the field, and her mare skittered off, obviously panicked.
"Serena!" he yelled, urging his horse into action. He swiftly leapt over the log and dismounted, ground-tying his horse. He rushed over to where Serena had fallen. He looked at the scene in horror. Serena was lying with her eyes closed, and her arm was in an awkward position.
He knelt by her side, noticing the slow but steady rise and fall of her chest. Her face was deathly pace, and her arm was at least sprained, most likely broken. The logical side of his brain took all of this in, while the other side of it panicked. He cupped her cheeks in his palms, and began murmuring to her. "Please, Serena, wake up, please be okay. Please, wake up Serena, please . . ."
Then, her eyes slowly fluttered and she blinked them open. She let out a soft moan, and struggled to get up. She put some weight on her arm but let out a sharp cry and fell onto her back.
"Shh, don't try to get up," he soothed her, but his voice was shaking.
"Endy? What happened?" she murmured groggily.
"I think your arm is broken, you took a nasty fall," he explained, trying to keep her calm.
"What happened to my mare? Is she alright?" Serena asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about it, we need to try to get you back to the palace right now," he instructed her. He slid an arm under her knees, the other supporting her back. He slowly rose to his feet with her in his arms. He looked around for the horses. His own was standing dutifully where Endymion had left him. Serena's was standing not too far off in the field.
He took the reins of his own horse and led him towards Serena's. Looking at the mare, he could see why she had panicked. There was a large bee sting near her withers that looked pretty painful. Endymion slowly placed Serena atop the mare, making sure not to jar her arm.
She took the reins in one hand, leaving the other hanging at her side. Endymion mounted his own horse, and they slowly made their way back to the palace.
*
Meanwhile, the sailor senshi were lounging around, not doing much of anything at all.
"I am sooo bored," Jupiter complained, leaning back against the headboard of Venus' bed. They had all ended up there after a long day of doing nothing.
Mars nodded. "I thought it would be more exciting here, with something always happening."
"Yes, and although their libraries are quite extensive, they have nowhere near the same technology as us," Mercury agreed.
Venus merely sighed, resting her chin in her hand.
All four girls sat on the bed for a few minutes in silence broken only by the occasion sigh. Mars was staring listlessly out of the window when she saw Serena and Endymion come in. Something was wrong with the way Serena was riding. She usually rode all-or-nothing, at full throttle the whole way. But now she was hunched over the saddle, slowly swaying to the beat of the horse's steps.
"Guys, something's wrong with Serena," Mars called, already halfway out the door.
The other senshi accepted her words without pausing and quickly followed her down to the stables.
*
Serena bit back a gasp of pain as she attempted to dismount with some dignity. It looked as though that was going to be impossible. Endymion half-carried, half-dragged her down from the saddle. "We need to get you to a healer," he muttered mostly to himself, still holding her.
She bit her lip and nodded. She hated going to healers, but it was better than being stuff with a broken arm for months.
Suddenly, the sailor senshi rushed in and crowded around her.
"Serena, are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"What did you do to her?" This last comment was directed to Endymion by the ever- protective Jupiter.
"I'm fine, I just fell off," Serena explained.
There was dead silence for all of two seconds before Venus burst out, "YOU fell off your horse??"
It was well known throughout the moon kingdom that the princess was one of the best riders on the moon. For Serena to fall off of her horse was nearly unheard of.
Endymion noticed that Serena was trying to stifle her pain, and said, "We really need to get her to a healer to get her arm looked at."
"Why are you taking her to a healer? I thought . . ." Venus started, then was abruptly cut off when Mars elbowed her in the ribs.
"You thought what?" Endymion questioned suspiciously.
Venus gave a nervous laugh, sticking a hand behind her head. "Oh, nothing, nothing at all."
Endymion raised his eyebrow, but led Serena away to the palace healer. Once they had gone, Mars whispered furiously, "Are you crazy? You know earth hasn't fully developed their powers yet!"
Venus shrugged, looking sheepish. "I know, I just forgot for a second, okay? I told you too many history lessons would drive me insane."
"You were there a long time ago," Mars muttered under her breath.
"What was that Mars??"
*
Author's Notes: Well, that seemed like a good place to stop. Are you on the edge of your seat? No? . . . Oh, well. I hope anybody who's reading this likes it so far! I'm writing it as fast as my little fingers can type it! I really, really wanna thank everybody who has reviewed me!! Big hug to you guys! Well, I promise you'll find out what 'powers' earth has next chapter, which will probably be out in a couple of days. (Unless I am distracted by the weekend ^_^; ). Later days!
-Krissy
PS- If anybody is wondering what ground-tying a horse is, I'm pretty sure it's when the reins touch the ground and the horses and trained to stay where they are basically 'tyed to the ground'.
Serena felt something tickle at her nose. She wiped it away, but it came back insistently. She swiped at it again, but it came back. She slowing opened her eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. Venus was staring down at her, holding the incriminating feather in one hand. "Um," she said, shoving the feather behind her back.
Serena groaned, slowly sitting up. "What do you want, Venus?"
Venus looked nervously at the other senshi, who were gathered around her. "Um, why don't you guys tell her," she suggested, slipping behind them.
"Why do we always have to face her wrath?" Jupiter grumbled. "It's not fair. One of these days, I'm going to get singed."
Serena glanced at each of them, feeling suspicious already. "Tell me what?"
The room remained silent before Mars sighed with irritation (and a bit of fear) and stepped forward. "Serena, your mother wanted us to tell you something."
"Tell me what?" Serena repeated, feeling a little afraid. Her mother's news had exactly been the best these past few days.
"Well, tell her Merc," Mars said, hastily shoving Mercury forward.
"Ah, well, you see, due to the various implications and repercussions of your current arrangements, some things must be *ahem* speeded up."
Serena stared blankly at Mercury, having been lost since the word 'implications'. "Um, what?"
"Your mother wants you to be married by next week! Jeez, people!" Mars cried, throwing her hands in the air.
Serena sat there for a minute, staring straight ahead with her mouth hanging open slightly. "What . . ." she whispered hoarsely.
The senshi looked guiltily at each other. They really, really wished Queen Serenity could find someone else to tell Serena all of this bad news.
Serena remained motionless on the bed. Mars slowly sat next to her, waiting for the inevitable explosion. Still, nothing. "Serena, I'm sorry," she whispered, slowly resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Please leave." The sudden words from Serena's lips caused them to back up a step. The words were cold, lifeless.
"Serena . . ." Mars trailed off.
"Please," Serena said again.
The senshi went silently out the door. Serena waited a few minutes to make sure they were really gone before she began to cry. She would be married, not in less than a year, but in less than a week. With that thought, she threw herself onto her pillow and let the sobs wrack through her.
*
Endymion swung his sword in a high arc, only to be met with Nephrite's own blade. They each struggled to gain control by pushing harder, but neither one could win. They jumped apart and immediately began clashing their blades together before Nephrite disarmed Endymion when he made a careless move.
"Endymion, your mind isn't in this. You should have beaten Nephrite easily," Kunzite said, taking his usual position of leader.
Nephrite wrinkled hi nose at Kunzite. "Thanks a lot, Kunz."
Endymion looked down at the ground, breathing hard. It was true; he usually did beat Nephrite in swordplay, and definitely never lost after only one minute of sparring. But it was hard to concentrate on much of anything since he'd heard the news. They were going to be married within the week. He could hardly believe it.
His friends knew what had happened and why he couldn't concentrate. They felt bad, but also knew that was the life of a prince. To serve the people in any way you could.
"Have you talked to her today?" Jadeite asked, his normally joking voice now serious and concerned.
He shook his head slightly. "No. I don't want to see her. She's probably broken up about this."
"Who knows? Maybe she's happy about it. You know how girls are," Kunzite suggested, trying to make him feel better.
"Not this girl. She's waiting for her prince charming, you can tell just by looking at her. And I," he stated, "Am no Prince Charming."
Nephrite spoke up, finishing cleaning his blade. "I think you should go talk to her. You two need each other more than ever now."
Endymion considered this. Nephrite had always had an almost supernatural view of the future, and his advice was not to be taken lightly. "Ok, I'll talk to her," he relented. "But if she tries to kill me, you guys are to blame."
They wished him luck, and he left for Serena. Maybe she really is happy, he thought. I don't want to make her suffer.
*
He walked up to her door and tapped lightly on it.
"Go away," she sobbed, her voice muffled by something.
He slowly swung the door open and walked into the room. She was lying facedown on her bed, her face in her arms. He crept up to the side of her bed, looking down at her. She was shaking from crying. He perched himself at the edge of her bed, unsure of what to do.
Eventually, she wiped her eyes on her sleeve and looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and her face was pale except for the tip of her nose, which was bright red. He looked into her blood-shot eyes, and was distressed to find nothing but sadness.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice shaky.
He regarded her a moment. "Sorry for what?" His voice was equally low, but even.
"That you're stuck with me. That in a few days, we'll both be trapped forever in a loveless marriage."
He gazed at her intently. "Is that really what you think?"
She looked down and refused to speak. He continued anyways. "Listen, this may not be our decision, but we can still make the best of it. We could be friends."
Her gaze flicked up to him. "You're . . . you're not mad?" she asked in a small voice.
He tried to smile, but failed when her looked into her watery eyes. "Of course not. It's neither of our faults, right?"
She gave him a wavering smile. "Right."
He smiled, a real smile this time, and pulled her to her feet. "Let's go do something."
She laughed. "Like what? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm still in my bedclothes."
He glanced at her. He hadn't even noticed the frilly nightgown she was wearing. "Well, get changed then, and we can do whatever you want."
She smiled genuinely. "You're on, but I hope you can keep up," she teased.
*
Endymion waited outside of Serena's room. He had been for the past fifteen minutes, waiting for her to get ready. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. I hope it's not going to be like this every morning, he reflected. The thought surprised him. He had already begun adjusting to the thought of waking up next to her every morning, and going to sleep with her every night.
Just then, the door swung open, and Serena strode out. She was clad in riding pants, a simple blouse, and boots.
"What are you wearing?" he said incredulously.
She tossed a smirk at him. "What does it look like I'm wearing? We're going riding. I haven't been able to since we got here."
He was still staring at her, so she began to walk off. "I hope you're not this slow on horse-back, or you definitely won't be able to keep up."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
*
"Yee-haw!" Serena shouted, reveling in the rush of the wind around her. She leaned forward and urged her mare even faster. They pounded down the beaten dirt path, forestry rushing by on either side.
"What are you, crazy? Slow down!" Endymion called up to her, galloping his own stallion alongside her.
Serena's mount was a vivid bay mare, perfect for Serena's slight frame but spirited enough for a challenge. Endymion's was a tall liver chestnut he'd had for a few years. They galloped together down the winding dirt path, each racing for the lead. Finally, they emerged out of the shaded woods onto a path with level fields on either side.
Suddenly, Endymion saw a small log a ways up the trail. It was about three feet high, so his slowed his mount to a slow canter. Serena didn't seem to notice it though, as she galloped full-speed ahead.
He called out for her to stop, but she crouched lower, straightened her legs, and leapt over the log with flawless grace.
He grinned and shook his head. Sometimes, this girl was unbelievable. He watched her land on the other side, when suddenly her horse reared up. Serena went flying into the field, and her mare skittered off, obviously panicked.
"Serena!" he yelled, urging his horse into action. He swiftly leapt over the log and dismounted, ground-tying his horse. He rushed over to where Serena had fallen. He looked at the scene in horror. Serena was lying with her eyes closed, and her arm was in an awkward position.
He knelt by her side, noticing the slow but steady rise and fall of her chest. Her face was deathly pace, and her arm was at least sprained, most likely broken. The logical side of his brain took all of this in, while the other side of it panicked. He cupped her cheeks in his palms, and began murmuring to her. "Please, Serena, wake up, please be okay. Please, wake up Serena, please . . ."
Then, her eyes slowly fluttered and she blinked them open. She let out a soft moan, and struggled to get up. She put some weight on her arm but let out a sharp cry and fell onto her back.
"Shh, don't try to get up," he soothed her, but his voice was shaking.
"Endy? What happened?" she murmured groggily.
"I think your arm is broken, you took a nasty fall," he explained, trying to keep her calm.
"What happened to my mare? Is she alright?" Serena asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about it, we need to try to get you back to the palace right now," he instructed her. He slid an arm under her knees, the other supporting her back. He slowly rose to his feet with her in his arms. He looked around for the horses. His own was standing dutifully where Endymion had left him. Serena's was standing not too far off in the field.
He took the reins of his own horse and led him towards Serena's. Looking at the mare, he could see why she had panicked. There was a large bee sting near her withers that looked pretty painful. Endymion slowly placed Serena atop the mare, making sure not to jar her arm.
She took the reins in one hand, leaving the other hanging at her side. Endymion mounted his own horse, and they slowly made their way back to the palace.
*
Meanwhile, the sailor senshi were lounging around, not doing much of anything at all.
"I am sooo bored," Jupiter complained, leaning back against the headboard of Venus' bed. They had all ended up there after a long day of doing nothing.
Mars nodded. "I thought it would be more exciting here, with something always happening."
"Yes, and although their libraries are quite extensive, they have nowhere near the same technology as us," Mercury agreed.
Venus merely sighed, resting her chin in her hand.
All four girls sat on the bed for a few minutes in silence broken only by the occasion sigh. Mars was staring listlessly out of the window when she saw Serena and Endymion come in. Something was wrong with the way Serena was riding. She usually rode all-or-nothing, at full throttle the whole way. But now she was hunched over the saddle, slowly swaying to the beat of the horse's steps.
"Guys, something's wrong with Serena," Mars called, already halfway out the door.
The other senshi accepted her words without pausing and quickly followed her down to the stables.
*
Serena bit back a gasp of pain as she attempted to dismount with some dignity. It looked as though that was going to be impossible. Endymion half-carried, half-dragged her down from the saddle. "We need to get you to a healer," he muttered mostly to himself, still holding her.
She bit her lip and nodded. She hated going to healers, but it was better than being stuff with a broken arm for months.
Suddenly, the sailor senshi rushed in and crowded around her.
"Serena, are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"What did you do to her?" This last comment was directed to Endymion by the ever- protective Jupiter.
"I'm fine, I just fell off," Serena explained.
There was dead silence for all of two seconds before Venus burst out, "YOU fell off your horse??"
It was well known throughout the moon kingdom that the princess was one of the best riders on the moon. For Serena to fall off of her horse was nearly unheard of.
Endymion noticed that Serena was trying to stifle her pain, and said, "We really need to get her to a healer to get her arm looked at."
"Why are you taking her to a healer? I thought . . ." Venus started, then was abruptly cut off when Mars elbowed her in the ribs.
"You thought what?" Endymion questioned suspiciously.
Venus gave a nervous laugh, sticking a hand behind her head. "Oh, nothing, nothing at all."
Endymion raised his eyebrow, but led Serena away to the palace healer. Once they had gone, Mars whispered furiously, "Are you crazy? You know earth hasn't fully developed their powers yet!"
Venus shrugged, looking sheepish. "I know, I just forgot for a second, okay? I told you too many history lessons would drive me insane."
"You were there a long time ago," Mars muttered under her breath.
"What was that Mars??"
*
Author's Notes: Well, that seemed like a good place to stop. Are you on the edge of your seat? No? . . . Oh, well. I hope anybody who's reading this likes it so far! I'm writing it as fast as my little fingers can type it! I really, really wanna thank everybody who has reviewed me!! Big hug to you guys! Well, I promise you'll find out what 'powers' earth has next chapter, which will probably be out in a couple of days. (Unless I am distracted by the weekend ^_^; ). Later days!
-Krissy
PS- If anybody is wondering what ground-tying a horse is, I'm pretty sure it's when the reins touch the ground and the horses and trained to stay where they are basically 'tyed to the ground'.