Just a Dream

The princess sat in the garden staring at her reflection in the large koi pond. Occasionally one of the fish would dart just beneath the surface. Causing the image to ripple and distort. She giggled at the sight, making funny faces to see if the reflection could be distorted even more. Eventually though she noticed a large shadow moving behind her. 'Oh no! He's here!' She spun around to face her unknown stalker, her eyes wide with terror.

"D-darling, don't jump like that. You startled me." The Queen exclaimed, holding a hand to her chest. Looking at her daughter's stricken face, she added softly "Or perhaps it is I who frightened you."

"Mother." Instantly the girl collapsed in her mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The Queen chose not to speak for the moment. Opting instead to embrace her daughter, rocking her like she did when the girl was still young. "I-I thought you we-were..."

"I know." The Queen answered. "Do not worry. He is elsewhere, making preparations for the wedding."

The Wedding. The Princess' body stiffened at the word. Looking up into her mother's eyes, she pleaded "Mother, why are you allowing this to happen?'

The Queen shook her head sadly. "It is your father's decision darling. I cannot contradict it."

"But he is a monster. You know what he will try to do to-"

"That is not for you to judge." the Queen answered rather sharply. Seeing her daughter flinch at her harsh words, her expression softened and she pulled the girl into a tighter embrace. "Have courage dear heart." she said gently. "Mayhap this betrothal will temper his behavior."

The Princess hugged her mother with a despondent sigh. It was a foolish wish. The Earth Prince's reputation, his 'appetites', were too strong. He undoubtedly would continue his cruel ways, even into the Moon Kingdom. The thought of which brought tears of sadness to her eyes. 'No.' she thought, shaking her head. 'Don't think about that. Put it out of your mind. Just take comfort in your mother's arms. Ignore everything else. The upcoming wedding. The garden surroundings. The scratching on your legs.' Her eyes flew open. Scratching? Oh no! She looked down to see thorny rose vines wrapping themselves around her ankles. Desperately she tried to push her mother out of reach but too late. A rather thick vine lashed out and wrapped around the Queen's waist. Seemingly from out of nowhere, thorny vines suddenly whipped out and dug in painfully to their arms and legs. Tearing into their flesh, and hoisting them aloft. Dangling helplessly in the air like a pair of marionettes.

"My, my, such talk." a cruel, mocking voice filled them with dread. "One might think you were unhappy about the wedding."

"End- Endymion." the Queen gasped. "You misunderstood what we were saying. O-of course we are happy for you."

Endymion's eyes took on a hard glint. "Are you Mother? Then show me ."

"Sh-show you?"

"Yes Mother." he said with a warm, amiable smile on his face. "Give me a big smile." Biting her lip trying to ignore the painful thorns penetrating her skin the Queen gave a tremulous smile. But the Prince shook his head with a frown. "No no. That's all wrong. Here, let me help you." Suddenly a rather vicious looking vine wrapped itself over the top of her head, and two large thorns dug into the corners of her mouth. As the vine tightened, the thorns pulled back on her face. Almost splitting her mouth open into a grotesque rictus smile. The Queen closed her eyes tightly, as hot tears of pain and humiliation ran down her face. "There, much better." the Prince said brightly. He then turned to view the horror-strickened Princess. Casually he strode up to her. "Tell me little sister." he asked gently. "Do you love me?"

"Y-yes brother." She said. Her voice quivering.

"How much?"

"How-how much?" she stammered.

"Yes. Show me." The vines attached to her wrists slackened, and her arms fell loosely at her sides. But she could still feel the thorns pressing tightly into her wrists. "Now little sister." the Prince smiled at her like she was a little tot. "Do you love me 'this much'?" And he spread his arms in a wide gesture. Instantly the slackened vines went taut. And the Princess' arms were forced open painfully.

"Yes brother." she gasped.

"Say it." his voice and smile becoming cruel, as the vines again slackened.

"I l-love you..." she hesitated.

"Say it!" he growled. No longer smiling.

"I, I love you, 'this much.'" And again, the vines pulled her arms apart in a gross parody of a child's game. The Princess struggled to keep from crying out as her shoulders were twisted back painfully. Almost out of joint.

"How much?" the Prince asked. And for a third time the vines slackened.

"I love you-" this time the vines pulled back even harder. Succeeding in tearing her shoulders out of joint. "THIS MUCH!" She screamed. No longer trying to resist the pain.

"How much?"

"THIS MUCH!"

"HOW much?"

"THIS MUCH!"

"HOW MUCH!"

"THIS MUCH!"

The girl shot up from bed gasping for breath as her silent scream choked in her throat. Her face was damp with sweat and tears. "Just a dream." She whispered to herself as she rolled onto her side hugging her pillow. Her knees drawn up into a tight fetal position. "Just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream." Relena repeated over and over to the shadows.

A.N. Sorry I haven't written in so long. But my family had moved to a brand new house. An I mean 'Brand New' It took forever for them to build though. And when I finally got the chance to start writing again, I got the worst type of writer's block. You know, the kind where you know what you want to write. But you can't seem to put it in the story correctly. Hopefully I am past that. And can soon put out more chapters.

Keep your fingers crossed.