Authors Notes- Ok, here is a really long chapter, don't you just love me?
It takes off a little here, and I finally have some action! I thought that
would never happen. I worked really hard on this chapter, I don't mind
saying, so make sure you review to make it worth the time and effort I put
into it. I know you will!
I have a question to ask you. This story is brought to pass because USAGI is remembering her past as if she were living it once more. Because of that, it really only makes sense to have it only from her point of view, but if you think I should I could also do some chapters/paragraphs for other people's perspective, namely Duo, and Heero. If you think I should, tell me. Otherwise, I'll just have Usagi.
**
Quickly Serenity stuffed a few of her necessities into a simple canvas bag. Now was the time, if there ever was one. She had a plan for what she was going to do when she was down there, and her parents were off to Saturn for the next two days for a conference. If she was ever going to get down to earth to have a real adventure, it was now or never.
So far she had stuffed into her bag a simple tunic, and another pair of brown shoes. She was going to wear her Aria on her back for easier traveling, and get everything else she would need when she was down there. She had a simple comb, which she had already stuffed down at the bottom, and a few other items of interest to her. Some cheese, and a loaf of bread were in a separate bag, which she had managed to sneak from the kitchen earlier that day.
As she was looking through her room for anything else she might have to grab, her eyes involuntarily rested on her dresser. There, placed earlier with loving care was her book.
She walked over to the other side of the room, and gently picked it up. It was a magnificent work of art on the outside, all mythical creatures, and forest. But it was what was on the inside that made it really special. It was filled with different stories of people going on bizarre adventures, and battles. It was this book that first made her want to go to an 'uncivilized' place, so that she could also have her own adventure, like the characters in the book. And all she had to do was go down to where this had all taken place…earth.
She put the book back where it was before she picked it up. As much as it pained her to leave behind, she knew that she didn't need to read about other people doing marvelous things, because soon she would be doing them herself. Or at least she would be able to see a little of the world which was forbidden to her.
It was harder at first than she thought it would be to leave her home, but the thrilling anticipation drove her on. But first there was one thing that she would need to do.
For her, as with much of the moon kingdom, magic was a central part of her life. It was as simple as breathing for her, and she had been trained to use the immense power in her from birth, much like she learned so many other things in school. It was much more fun than learning etiquette though, and she found she had a knack for it. All she had to do was to reach into her, and find the pool of blinding white power that was so much a part of her, or she could reach into a similar silver pool. There she could draw the pure energy, and direct it to what she wanted to accomplish. Most people could, but because of whom her parents were she knew that she had an unordinary amount. And then there was the fact that she had 2 sources of energy, when everyone else had one….but she didn't need to think about that right now. She had more important things to do than to once more puzzle about her life, and why she was the way she was. It wouldn't do any good anyway.
Serenity stepped over to the full-length mirror that hung on her wall. She didn't want to look at herself, the people who spent their entire day marveling at their own beauty always disgusted her. She needed to look at her image for this though.
Staring deeper into the image than most normally did, she slowly reached into her. She pulled out the almost tangible force, and began to change.
She only wanted minute changes, so slowly she used her ability to change the color of her eyes from the brilliant blue, to a more pale green color. Next she changed her hair from the easily recognizable gold, to a dark amber. Lastly she changed her skin from the pale white, so a dark golden tan.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud at the image that how stared back at her in the mirror. It was someone completely different, someone her parents and the guards would never recognize. Her white teeth stood out starkly against her now dark skin, and she marveled at her new image…but not for long.
She had more important things to do, so reluctantly she walked over once more to her dresser. On one of the corners, lay a ornate golden knife. It had a jeweled hilt, and its razor sharpness could cut through anything. It was worth a small fortune, but this was one thing that she couldn't take with her.
Careful not to let the edge get close to her fingers, she skillfully lifted it up into her right hand, and walked back to the mirror. She carefully lifted a lock of her hair, and began to methodically chop it off.
It was harder than she thought it would be to cut her knee-length hair to a more practical shoulder length. She tried not to let herself think about the years it had taken her to grow it out as the strands fell to the floor in an amber shower. Besides, the thought trying to cheer herself up. She could always grow it back, naturally, or with her art.
And now the last part of her costume. Serenity once more left the mirror to walk to the closet. It was filled with fancy dresses, ornate gowns, and everything a princess would ever want to wear. Jeweled cloaks, and other valuable items, but at the same time Serenity found them utterly worthless. With a savageness, which expressed more than words ever could how much she hated the wardrobe, she pushed them to the side. She didn't want to bring anything with her but the bare necessities, and whatever money she would need she could earn by playing as a minstrel, for that was what she would be. A traveling minstrel could go places, without being noticed, and singing and playing her unique instrument was one of the few things she knew how to do that would be of worth down there.
Finally finding what she was looking for, she pulled out a dark brown cloak. She swung it over her shoulders, and clasped the plain clasp. Lastly she pulled the hood over her head to completely shadow her face. Perfect. She wouldn't recognize herself dressed like this, there was no way anyone else could find her, if they did even bother.
And so she grabbed her bad, and swung it over he shoulder. She carefully put her harp on her back, and got ready to go. Lastly, she placed a small white piece of paper under the knife on her dresser. It would explain what she was doing, and begged her parents not to come looking for her, as much of a chance she really thought there was of THAT ever happening.
Not able to stop herself from smiling slightly, she once more walked back to the full-length mirror. She hated the fact that she had to spent so much time in front of it, more that day than ever before, it was necessary if she was ever going to get off this horribly boring moon.
She closed her eyes, and steeled herself for what she was going to do next. It should work, in theory at least. She had never tried to create a portal like this before, but she couldn't try it beforehand without someone finding out. Not ever her brother knew about her plan to create a 'pathway' per say to go down to earth. It was her one trick to get down there, and now she was going to attempt it. And it would be the last time to use any of her magic like this. She couldn't down at earth, because it was far too much like a beacon. Someone could sense her using it, and trace her because of that. But for now, she was safe.
Closing her eyes, because it always helped her concentrate, she drew a thin cord of pure silver power from the pool inside her. Slowly, and with infinite care she wove it into a web over, and also into the mirror. As the threads came together, slowly a silver vortex began to appear.
When she was finally finished, Serenity opened her eyes. In front of her was a swirling silver pool, much like the one she saw inside her when she closed her eyes. Her eyes lit as she looked at her greatest accomplishment, and armed with nothing more than her desire for adventure, she stepped through.
**
For a second all she saw was darkness, but then her eyes adjusted to the forest and she could make out a few vague shapes. Lush, wild trees, and knee-high grass surrounded her. She wanted to scream, or cry as she looked at the world she was now it. One thought was pre-dominant in her mind.
IT WORKED!
It was almost unbelievable that she was out of the castle on her own for the first time in her life. No guards…nothing to hold her back! And the forest was so beautiful. Sure, there were trees in the castle, but they were carefully groomed, and everything was kept in perfect order. The gardens WERE beautiful, but they lacked a certain wildness, which this place had. Wild, and untamed, just like she had always wanted to be.
She spread her arms out to her sides, and spun like a whirlwind, round and round, reveling in the freedom she felt that overrode all of her senses. She went faster, and faster, and…one ankle went behind the other and she tripped, landing in a completely graceless thud.
She lay down on the ground, and just started laughing. She felt a strange stinging sensation, and looked down at her hand. There was a tiny streak of blood on her palm, nothing really, but it was something. If she had been in the palace, guards would rush up to her, and scold her for being so reckless, but here she was all by herself. It was just a cut, and down here she wouldn't have it wrapped in thick bandages like she could back home. It did sting slightly, but like her newfound freedom, she reveled in the feeling.
She got up, and wiped her hand onto her dark cape. The blood was absorbed into the fabric, and you couldn't tell that it was even dirty. Then she started walking.
Aimlessly she traveled through the woods, not really going anywhere. There weren't any worries of what she was going to do at another court function, or having to pretend she was happy when in truth she felt like a caged bird. There wasn't anywhere she needed to be. Sure, she would need to find a place to spend the night, and maybe an inn where she could play later on. But she wouldn't allow those thoughts to worry her. She could think about what she was going to DO later, but right now, she just wanted to be here.
She didn't know how long she walked; it could have been hours, or maybe less. It was even darker than it was when she first came into the forest, but that didn't stop her from seeing the shadow drop in front of her line of vision.
"Look what we have 'ere boys. Looks like a lost lamb to me." A gruff voice interrupted her contemplation with a too loud laugh.
She whipped around, and saw off to the side of the path she had been walking on someone unlike she had ever seen before. He was relatively tall, and had bright red hair. A scar ran down across the side of his eye, and down to his chin. He was wearing ratty clothes, and had a dagger in a belt on his pants. He looked like a rogue, a pirate, or something. She felt herself shiver as he looked at her, open hunger in his eyes.
"So whadda you guys think that we could get off this little lost lamb? Should've known better than to go out into the big scary woods alone." He said with a sneer, turning to his companions who had gathered behind him. "I really think that we should take care of him, after all, it can be dangerous out there. There are people who might want to take advantage of a lone traveler." He finished with mock horror as he started to advance.
Serenity started to back away, more afraid than she had ever been in her life. He was just so BIG and his partners were looking at her as if they were judging her value. 'Thank god they don't know I'm a girl yet' she thought as she backed away. She had nothing to protect herself, so as she backed into a tree she lifted up a large stick that had fallen to the ground. She held it like a baseball bat, and waited for him to reach her. She knew that if she ran then she could only get lost in these woods, and eventually she would get caught no matter what she did.
The leader started to laugh uproariously as he looked at her. She must have looked ridiculous, just a black shadow holding a stick in the face of a trained bandit.
She pitched her voice lower. "Don't take another step" she tried to sound menacing, but it only made him start to laugh louder. "Fellas, you can stay back there. I can take care of this one by myself." He called back to his companions as he continued move forward.
Serenity licked her lips, and in the few seconds while she waited she watched her whole life flash before her eyes. Her mind had completely blanked in light of the situation, and she couldn't think of anything else to do but stand there until her life came to an end, at least her life, as she knew it.
When he was close enough for her to make use of her short-range weapon, she tensed her muscles, and swung it as hard as she could at his scarred ugly face. As it swung through the air, she found herself praying that she could be fortunate for it to make contact.
But much to her frustration he managed to catch it in both of his hands seconds before it came in contact with his head. "Is that all yaw got?" He questioned with a sneer, as he lifted his large meaty fist it finish it.
Serenity closed her eyes, now only hoping that it would be too quick for her to feel anything. She waited, and she waited, but to her shock it never came.
Slowly squinting her eyes open, and only for a second wondering if she was dead, she prepared herself to face the world, and saw a blur.
The blur was a long staff, at least 7 feet in length. Unlike her clumsy swing, it danced through the air, stopping every one of the blows that the leader tried to make at the stranger holding it.
He moved with a lithe grace unlike anyone she had ever seen. It reminded her of a dance the way he fought with the man nearly twice his size. He moved almost too quickly for her to really comprehend what she was seeing, and she knew it was the most beautiful thing she had ever been able to witness.
With a final rap on the head, the hulk of a man fell unconscious to the ground. Serenity winced "that'll definitely leave a mark" she found herself muttering in spite of her will to keep quiet.
She looked behind the man to see if the rest of the gang was there, but found that seeing the easy disposal this man made with their leader, they had run, and you could still hear the rustling of the bushes as they stumbled over themselves trying to get away.
Meanwhile the mysterious stranger had come up to her, and grabbing her arm he started running, pulling her along with him. She wondered why it is that he would be running from the bandits when they had already run from him, but tried not to worry about it.
It was harder than she thought it would be to keep up with him, and she spent the time in their headlong rush through the wilderness mainly trying not to fall over herself. It was a rush unlike anything she had ever felt, but at the same time she was so emotionally exhausted that it was harder than it would have been under any other circumstances. She was finally starting to get the hang of it when she found herself flying headlong to the ground.
"Oofff." She winced as she tripped over a large branch that she hadn't noticed was there until it was too late. She lay on the ground for only a second, and then she scrambled up. In front of her stood the stranger, the man who had saved her from a fate worse than one she could imagine, she was sure. He leaned on his staff, and she found herself regretting losing hers in the flight. It would come in handy.
It was the first time she really had a chance to look at him. He wasn't what she was expecting, unlike the rogues she had met before; he didn't look like something that was dragged from the bottom of a lake. He was wearing simple brown clothes, meant to blend in with the forest. She got the feeling that that outfit was what was common in these parts. His hair was a dark brown, and right now extremely messy. He had some twigs stuck in places everywhere, and she found her fingers twitching to pull them out. He was fairly young, most likely around her age, but she wasn't exactly sure. He had dark Prussian blue eyes, and darkly tanned skin. 'He's not half bad, but he isn't a prince' she found her mind wandering to areas she didn't want to go with someone she hadn't really even met yet, so she started to pick dirt off her coat, trying to avoid his penetrating gaze.
"So." He said in a surprisingly mild voice. "What's a noble like you doing out in the middle of the woods without any protection?" He sounded sarcastic, like she was stupid to be out here alone, and how dare she force him to rescue her. His tone immediately put her on the edge.
She pitched her voice lower, if he didn't realize she was a girl, there was no way she was going to let him know. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a noble, I'm just your ordinary traveling minstrel, trying to make a living wandering from town to town."
Surprisingly he started to laugh. That made just her angrier, how dare he laugh at her! But she didn't do anything; just wait to see what he was going to do next.
"You, not a noble! Come on, I don't know who you think your fooling, but it's easy to tell that you're not any ordinary minstrel. For one thing, your cloak alone is worth a small fortune around here, and your accent is unlike anything I've ever heard. Now." He stepped closer "Why don't you just tell me the truth, and stop your lying."
She stepped backwards, unsure of what to say but knowing that she wanted to get away. She took another step, and found herself once more tripping over her own feet! 'Why do I have to be such a klutz?' she wondered to herself as she landed on the ground. As she landed for the first time since she arrived here, her hood fell from her face. She wouldn't have ever noticed it if she hadn't seen the look on the face of her rescuer.
"You're a woman!" He said incredulously. "What are you doing out here all alone? This is even worse than if you were some noble, which you still are most likely. Don't you have any sense to not go out alone? Where have you been all of your life, there are bandits out here?!" He talked to her like she was a foolish child, and heat rushed to her cheeks. How dare he talk to her like that? She was the princess of the moon, the second child of two of the most powerful people ever alive! How dare he!
She put on her most royal face and answered. "I thank you for your help good sir. But I really must get going." She bowed slightly, mockingly "Now, could you be so kind to point me in the direction of the nearest village?" There was ice in her voice as she finished and waited expectantly.
He boy looked at her even more like she was crazy, and silently pointed to the right, the same direction she had been traveling in before the world had gone mad.
And without a word of thanks, and still seething, she brushed past him and continued on her way. And left behind the boy whose name she didn't even know, watching her back, and wondering at the state of her sanity.
**
K everyone, was that what you expected? I sincerely hope not, and does anyone have any idea who her mysterious rescuer is? I certainly hope so, I tried to give it away. I hope you enjoyed it.
Remember to review! Reviews make siren happy, and a happy siren wants to make the really great reviews happier in return. That means longer chapters written faster, with more effort put into them.
Feel free to email me at sirencalling@yahoo.com I have to admit, I'm obsessed with talking, so anytime you want to say anything feel free. I usually have plenty of time to answer questions, and even if I don't there is no way I wouldn't answer you if you emailed me.
Ja ne!
I have a question to ask you. This story is brought to pass because USAGI is remembering her past as if she were living it once more. Because of that, it really only makes sense to have it only from her point of view, but if you think I should I could also do some chapters/paragraphs for other people's perspective, namely Duo, and Heero. If you think I should, tell me. Otherwise, I'll just have Usagi.
**
Quickly Serenity stuffed a few of her necessities into a simple canvas bag. Now was the time, if there ever was one. She had a plan for what she was going to do when she was down there, and her parents were off to Saturn for the next two days for a conference. If she was ever going to get down to earth to have a real adventure, it was now or never.
So far she had stuffed into her bag a simple tunic, and another pair of brown shoes. She was going to wear her Aria on her back for easier traveling, and get everything else she would need when she was down there. She had a simple comb, which she had already stuffed down at the bottom, and a few other items of interest to her. Some cheese, and a loaf of bread were in a separate bag, which she had managed to sneak from the kitchen earlier that day.
As she was looking through her room for anything else she might have to grab, her eyes involuntarily rested on her dresser. There, placed earlier with loving care was her book.
She walked over to the other side of the room, and gently picked it up. It was a magnificent work of art on the outside, all mythical creatures, and forest. But it was what was on the inside that made it really special. It was filled with different stories of people going on bizarre adventures, and battles. It was this book that first made her want to go to an 'uncivilized' place, so that she could also have her own adventure, like the characters in the book. And all she had to do was go down to where this had all taken place…earth.
She put the book back where it was before she picked it up. As much as it pained her to leave behind, she knew that she didn't need to read about other people doing marvelous things, because soon she would be doing them herself. Or at least she would be able to see a little of the world which was forbidden to her.
It was harder at first than she thought it would be to leave her home, but the thrilling anticipation drove her on. But first there was one thing that she would need to do.
For her, as with much of the moon kingdom, magic was a central part of her life. It was as simple as breathing for her, and she had been trained to use the immense power in her from birth, much like she learned so many other things in school. It was much more fun than learning etiquette though, and she found she had a knack for it. All she had to do was to reach into her, and find the pool of blinding white power that was so much a part of her, or she could reach into a similar silver pool. There she could draw the pure energy, and direct it to what she wanted to accomplish. Most people could, but because of whom her parents were she knew that she had an unordinary amount. And then there was the fact that she had 2 sources of energy, when everyone else had one….but she didn't need to think about that right now. She had more important things to do than to once more puzzle about her life, and why she was the way she was. It wouldn't do any good anyway.
Serenity stepped over to the full-length mirror that hung on her wall. She didn't want to look at herself, the people who spent their entire day marveling at their own beauty always disgusted her. She needed to look at her image for this though.
Staring deeper into the image than most normally did, she slowly reached into her. She pulled out the almost tangible force, and began to change.
She only wanted minute changes, so slowly she used her ability to change the color of her eyes from the brilliant blue, to a more pale green color. Next she changed her hair from the easily recognizable gold, to a dark amber. Lastly she changed her skin from the pale white, so a dark golden tan.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud at the image that how stared back at her in the mirror. It was someone completely different, someone her parents and the guards would never recognize. Her white teeth stood out starkly against her now dark skin, and she marveled at her new image…but not for long.
She had more important things to do, so reluctantly she walked over once more to her dresser. On one of the corners, lay a ornate golden knife. It had a jeweled hilt, and its razor sharpness could cut through anything. It was worth a small fortune, but this was one thing that she couldn't take with her.
Careful not to let the edge get close to her fingers, she skillfully lifted it up into her right hand, and walked back to the mirror. She carefully lifted a lock of her hair, and began to methodically chop it off.
It was harder than she thought it would be to cut her knee-length hair to a more practical shoulder length. She tried not to let herself think about the years it had taken her to grow it out as the strands fell to the floor in an amber shower. Besides, the thought trying to cheer herself up. She could always grow it back, naturally, or with her art.
And now the last part of her costume. Serenity once more left the mirror to walk to the closet. It was filled with fancy dresses, ornate gowns, and everything a princess would ever want to wear. Jeweled cloaks, and other valuable items, but at the same time Serenity found them utterly worthless. With a savageness, which expressed more than words ever could how much she hated the wardrobe, she pushed them to the side. She didn't want to bring anything with her but the bare necessities, and whatever money she would need she could earn by playing as a minstrel, for that was what she would be. A traveling minstrel could go places, without being noticed, and singing and playing her unique instrument was one of the few things she knew how to do that would be of worth down there.
Finally finding what she was looking for, she pulled out a dark brown cloak. She swung it over her shoulders, and clasped the plain clasp. Lastly she pulled the hood over her head to completely shadow her face. Perfect. She wouldn't recognize herself dressed like this, there was no way anyone else could find her, if they did even bother.
And so she grabbed her bad, and swung it over he shoulder. She carefully put her harp on her back, and got ready to go. Lastly, she placed a small white piece of paper under the knife on her dresser. It would explain what she was doing, and begged her parents not to come looking for her, as much of a chance she really thought there was of THAT ever happening.
Not able to stop herself from smiling slightly, she once more walked back to the full-length mirror. She hated the fact that she had to spent so much time in front of it, more that day than ever before, it was necessary if she was ever going to get off this horribly boring moon.
She closed her eyes, and steeled herself for what she was going to do next. It should work, in theory at least. She had never tried to create a portal like this before, but she couldn't try it beforehand without someone finding out. Not ever her brother knew about her plan to create a 'pathway' per say to go down to earth. It was her one trick to get down there, and now she was going to attempt it. And it would be the last time to use any of her magic like this. She couldn't down at earth, because it was far too much like a beacon. Someone could sense her using it, and trace her because of that. But for now, she was safe.
Closing her eyes, because it always helped her concentrate, she drew a thin cord of pure silver power from the pool inside her. Slowly, and with infinite care she wove it into a web over, and also into the mirror. As the threads came together, slowly a silver vortex began to appear.
When she was finally finished, Serenity opened her eyes. In front of her was a swirling silver pool, much like the one she saw inside her when she closed her eyes. Her eyes lit as she looked at her greatest accomplishment, and armed with nothing more than her desire for adventure, she stepped through.
**
For a second all she saw was darkness, but then her eyes adjusted to the forest and she could make out a few vague shapes. Lush, wild trees, and knee-high grass surrounded her. She wanted to scream, or cry as she looked at the world she was now it. One thought was pre-dominant in her mind.
IT WORKED!
It was almost unbelievable that she was out of the castle on her own for the first time in her life. No guards…nothing to hold her back! And the forest was so beautiful. Sure, there were trees in the castle, but they were carefully groomed, and everything was kept in perfect order. The gardens WERE beautiful, but they lacked a certain wildness, which this place had. Wild, and untamed, just like she had always wanted to be.
She spread her arms out to her sides, and spun like a whirlwind, round and round, reveling in the freedom she felt that overrode all of her senses. She went faster, and faster, and…one ankle went behind the other and she tripped, landing in a completely graceless thud.
She lay down on the ground, and just started laughing. She felt a strange stinging sensation, and looked down at her hand. There was a tiny streak of blood on her palm, nothing really, but it was something. If she had been in the palace, guards would rush up to her, and scold her for being so reckless, but here she was all by herself. It was just a cut, and down here she wouldn't have it wrapped in thick bandages like she could back home. It did sting slightly, but like her newfound freedom, she reveled in the feeling.
She got up, and wiped her hand onto her dark cape. The blood was absorbed into the fabric, and you couldn't tell that it was even dirty. Then she started walking.
Aimlessly she traveled through the woods, not really going anywhere. There weren't any worries of what she was going to do at another court function, or having to pretend she was happy when in truth she felt like a caged bird. There wasn't anywhere she needed to be. Sure, she would need to find a place to spend the night, and maybe an inn where she could play later on. But she wouldn't allow those thoughts to worry her. She could think about what she was going to DO later, but right now, she just wanted to be here.
She didn't know how long she walked; it could have been hours, or maybe less. It was even darker than it was when she first came into the forest, but that didn't stop her from seeing the shadow drop in front of her line of vision.
"Look what we have 'ere boys. Looks like a lost lamb to me." A gruff voice interrupted her contemplation with a too loud laugh.
She whipped around, and saw off to the side of the path she had been walking on someone unlike she had ever seen before. He was relatively tall, and had bright red hair. A scar ran down across the side of his eye, and down to his chin. He was wearing ratty clothes, and had a dagger in a belt on his pants. He looked like a rogue, a pirate, or something. She felt herself shiver as he looked at her, open hunger in his eyes.
"So whadda you guys think that we could get off this little lost lamb? Should've known better than to go out into the big scary woods alone." He said with a sneer, turning to his companions who had gathered behind him. "I really think that we should take care of him, after all, it can be dangerous out there. There are people who might want to take advantage of a lone traveler." He finished with mock horror as he started to advance.
Serenity started to back away, more afraid than she had ever been in her life. He was just so BIG and his partners were looking at her as if they were judging her value. 'Thank god they don't know I'm a girl yet' she thought as she backed away. She had nothing to protect herself, so as she backed into a tree she lifted up a large stick that had fallen to the ground. She held it like a baseball bat, and waited for him to reach her. She knew that if she ran then she could only get lost in these woods, and eventually she would get caught no matter what she did.
The leader started to laugh uproariously as he looked at her. She must have looked ridiculous, just a black shadow holding a stick in the face of a trained bandit.
She pitched her voice lower. "Don't take another step" she tried to sound menacing, but it only made him start to laugh louder. "Fellas, you can stay back there. I can take care of this one by myself." He called back to his companions as he continued move forward.
Serenity licked her lips, and in the few seconds while she waited she watched her whole life flash before her eyes. Her mind had completely blanked in light of the situation, and she couldn't think of anything else to do but stand there until her life came to an end, at least her life, as she knew it.
When he was close enough for her to make use of her short-range weapon, she tensed her muscles, and swung it as hard as she could at his scarred ugly face. As it swung through the air, she found herself praying that she could be fortunate for it to make contact.
But much to her frustration he managed to catch it in both of his hands seconds before it came in contact with his head. "Is that all yaw got?" He questioned with a sneer, as he lifted his large meaty fist it finish it.
Serenity closed her eyes, now only hoping that it would be too quick for her to feel anything. She waited, and she waited, but to her shock it never came.
Slowly squinting her eyes open, and only for a second wondering if she was dead, she prepared herself to face the world, and saw a blur.
The blur was a long staff, at least 7 feet in length. Unlike her clumsy swing, it danced through the air, stopping every one of the blows that the leader tried to make at the stranger holding it.
He moved with a lithe grace unlike anyone she had ever seen. It reminded her of a dance the way he fought with the man nearly twice his size. He moved almost too quickly for her to really comprehend what she was seeing, and she knew it was the most beautiful thing she had ever been able to witness.
With a final rap on the head, the hulk of a man fell unconscious to the ground. Serenity winced "that'll definitely leave a mark" she found herself muttering in spite of her will to keep quiet.
She looked behind the man to see if the rest of the gang was there, but found that seeing the easy disposal this man made with their leader, they had run, and you could still hear the rustling of the bushes as they stumbled over themselves trying to get away.
Meanwhile the mysterious stranger had come up to her, and grabbing her arm he started running, pulling her along with him. She wondered why it is that he would be running from the bandits when they had already run from him, but tried not to worry about it.
It was harder than she thought it would be to keep up with him, and she spent the time in their headlong rush through the wilderness mainly trying not to fall over herself. It was a rush unlike anything she had ever felt, but at the same time she was so emotionally exhausted that it was harder than it would have been under any other circumstances. She was finally starting to get the hang of it when she found herself flying headlong to the ground.
"Oofff." She winced as she tripped over a large branch that she hadn't noticed was there until it was too late. She lay on the ground for only a second, and then she scrambled up. In front of her stood the stranger, the man who had saved her from a fate worse than one she could imagine, she was sure. He leaned on his staff, and she found herself regretting losing hers in the flight. It would come in handy.
It was the first time she really had a chance to look at him. He wasn't what she was expecting, unlike the rogues she had met before; he didn't look like something that was dragged from the bottom of a lake. He was wearing simple brown clothes, meant to blend in with the forest. She got the feeling that that outfit was what was common in these parts. His hair was a dark brown, and right now extremely messy. He had some twigs stuck in places everywhere, and she found her fingers twitching to pull them out. He was fairly young, most likely around her age, but she wasn't exactly sure. He had dark Prussian blue eyes, and darkly tanned skin. 'He's not half bad, but he isn't a prince' she found her mind wandering to areas she didn't want to go with someone she hadn't really even met yet, so she started to pick dirt off her coat, trying to avoid his penetrating gaze.
"So." He said in a surprisingly mild voice. "What's a noble like you doing out in the middle of the woods without any protection?" He sounded sarcastic, like she was stupid to be out here alone, and how dare she force him to rescue her. His tone immediately put her on the edge.
She pitched her voice lower, if he didn't realize she was a girl, there was no way she was going to let him know. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a noble, I'm just your ordinary traveling minstrel, trying to make a living wandering from town to town."
Surprisingly he started to laugh. That made just her angrier, how dare he laugh at her! But she didn't do anything; just wait to see what he was going to do next.
"You, not a noble! Come on, I don't know who you think your fooling, but it's easy to tell that you're not any ordinary minstrel. For one thing, your cloak alone is worth a small fortune around here, and your accent is unlike anything I've ever heard. Now." He stepped closer "Why don't you just tell me the truth, and stop your lying."
She stepped backwards, unsure of what to say but knowing that she wanted to get away. She took another step, and found herself once more tripping over her own feet! 'Why do I have to be such a klutz?' she wondered to herself as she landed on the ground. As she landed for the first time since she arrived here, her hood fell from her face. She wouldn't have ever noticed it if she hadn't seen the look on the face of her rescuer.
"You're a woman!" He said incredulously. "What are you doing out here all alone? This is even worse than if you were some noble, which you still are most likely. Don't you have any sense to not go out alone? Where have you been all of your life, there are bandits out here?!" He talked to her like she was a foolish child, and heat rushed to her cheeks. How dare he talk to her like that? She was the princess of the moon, the second child of two of the most powerful people ever alive! How dare he!
She put on her most royal face and answered. "I thank you for your help good sir. But I really must get going." She bowed slightly, mockingly "Now, could you be so kind to point me in the direction of the nearest village?" There was ice in her voice as she finished and waited expectantly.
He boy looked at her even more like she was crazy, and silently pointed to the right, the same direction she had been traveling in before the world had gone mad.
And without a word of thanks, and still seething, she brushed past him and continued on her way. And left behind the boy whose name she didn't even know, watching her back, and wondering at the state of her sanity.
**
K everyone, was that what you expected? I sincerely hope not, and does anyone have any idea who her mysterious rescuer is? I certainly hope so, I tried to give it away. I hope you enjoyed it.
Remember to review! Reviews make siren happy, and a happy siren wants to make the really great reviews happier in return. That means longer chapters written faster, with more effort put into them.
Feel free to email me at sirencalling@yahoo.com I have to admit, I'm obsessed with talking, so anytime you want to say anything feel free. I usually have plenty of time to answer questions, and even if I don't there is no way I wouldn't answer you if you emailed me.
Ja ne!