A PITTED ASTEROID ORBITING THE EARTH'S TALE
Chapter 1: The Tale Begins
A Sailor Moon/Lord of the Rings crossover… and perhaps a bit stereotypical?
SUMMARY: Serena Usagi Tsukino is tired with the plans of Fate and Destiny and rebels, paving a path of her own filled with many uncertainties. A SM/LOTR Xover
AUTHOR'S NOTE: (quite long, appreciated if read, but no obligations)
Greetings all! This is a Sailor Moon/Lord of the Rings crossover. I hope it pleases many and that my writing style is appreciated. I'd like to set some ground 'rules' if you will.
First off, the fact that you read these blurbs before stories is amazing enough and I heartily praise you for doing so. You truly are a devoted reader. And hopefully these blurbs will be far and few between!
Second, I welcome all types of reviews, even flames for it is at my discretion to take it or not. If of course your commentary is utterly absurd, I can point and laugh hysterically at the idiocy of the aforementioned review. But the fact that my story elicited such a response will definitely be taken into account as that is good to know. Constructive criticism however is highly appreciated. In fact the 'worst' reviews, and I say this as humbly as possible, are those that needlessly praise the writing, for each of us has some flaw and everything can be improved upon one more time.
Thirdly I have an idea of the pairings although it may certainly change depending on response.
Fourth, I must emphasize the fact that I will NOT update unless I get enough reviews that match the amount of work I put into the latest chapter. Reader response is purely the reason I write a story as it goes. Otherwise, I'd write it all first and then post it! (duh!)
Fifth, I will respond to avid reviewers, regardless of whether its in praise of my writing or not (I highly doubt that =])
Sixth, feel free to skip author's notes, as I do most of the time and go straight to the story as they usually will only concern reviewers. If something is important however, you will know.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. I bow down profusely to the genius of Naeko Takeuchi and JRR Tolkien for they are true pioneers of our time. Furthermore, there is no point in suing me as all I have are these two pennies I've been rubbing together for good luck with this story.
*Insert dramatic flourish and swish of an imaginary cape* I give you THE STORY: *Insert theatrical music and sweeping exit, courtesy of imaginary cape*
A Pitted Asteroid Orbiting the Earth's Tale
Chapter 1: The Tale Begins
*Flash* Hair the color of sunlight streamed behind the little girl as she ran across the garden and into the forest, in a fit of giggles. She wore a white frock, patterned with little white daises, the same which adorned the peculiar meatball headed pigtails on her head. Spotting a clearing ahead, the child ran towards it, away from the voice that called her back, "Little One? Where are you dear? It's time to come home my little bunny," called out a soft voice.
"Yes mother," the girl shouted. But she was feeling a bit rebellious. She spotted a cave, covered in pretty purple flowers. With a burst of delight, she was off to the cave, hoping to hide in a game of hide and seek.
The sky became overcast and it began to drizzle before it turned into an all out downpour. The child pouted. A roaring clap of thunder was heard and the child squealed in terror. She hated the rain. "Mother? Mother? Where are you mother?" she cried. She neared the cave, hoping to find shelter from the rain. As the entrance grew nearer, she turned, feeling that she was being watched. "Who's there?" she asked, "Who's there?" she repeated. All of a sudden, a gloved hand darted out and grabbed her from behind, in the direction of the cave. She screamed and screamed, before a musty smelling hand clamped over her mouth… and then, all was dark.
Serena Usagi Tsukino woke up gasping in bed from her latest nightmare. She fumbled quickly for her alarm, noticing that it was only one a.m. in the morning. Groaning at the interruption of sleep, Serena buried back in bed, in hopes of slipping back into dreamland. But she was still unable to forget the feeling of dread she had been woken up with. Unable to recall the events of her nightmare, Serena could only yawn, and pat her cat Luna, before trying her best to get back to sleep.
RRRIINNNGGG!! Serena mumbled and slammed the annoying clock off. Moments later…
"OH NO!!! I'M LATE!!! LUNAAA! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP???????"
The sixteen year old, Juuban high school student began her usual day and was out the door and on her way to school in ten minutes… before she realized that it was a Saturday. Oh darn, she thought, I wasted a perfectly good day of sleeping in. It was currently six a.m. in the morning, and so the sun had yet to rise. Figuring that the Crown Arcade had yet to be open, Serena decided to go to the park, not wanting to go home for fear of being made to do chores. Sighing wistfully, Serena was glad for the alone time at least. It would give her a chance to think.
Spotting the park gates up ahead, Serena pushed through and sat down on her favorite bench, and thought back to the last few days. It had been hectic, that's for sure. Not just school, but her home life and her life as her alter ego Sailor Moon. Lying down on the bench, she wistfully wished that she could be a normal girl, not having to worry what Fate and Destiny were constantly planning for her.
Things were changing, she could tell. Something was brewing… as in a wicked something. Serena wasn't as stupid as she made out to be, but to her, it added a little spice in her life to be someone different. To act as this immature klutzy girl was to hold on to what normalcy she had. Sighing, Serena wished she could escape from life. She closed her eyes, fiddling with her blonde locks, thinking of what it would be like to lead a normal life, with normal friends, normal sleeping hours, and even, a normal loved one. Things with Mamoru had been strangely tentative. It was as if they were in love, but not really. Whenever they went out, Mamoru would seem as if he wasn't exactly there. He seemed more distant, and she was sure it wasn't entirely his fault. She too hadn't exactly been the best girlfriend as of late. And things with the big bad were getting more and more in the way. Perhaps they weren't meant to be? Perhaps Destiny had made a mistake?
Serena groaned at the multitude of thoughts that threatened to break her sanity. Sliding forward on the wooden bench, she winced as it creaked from her weight. Not only were things with Mamoru escalating out of control, but the youma attacks too. She had been averaging roughly three hours of sleep a night and two during the day, sometime between classes and attempting to do some homework. The defeat of Chaos lead her to believe that things would be relatively normal until it came time for the Great Sleep as the world would prepare for the emergence of Crystal Tokyo. However, rag tag youmas has grown far more bolder than even Ami-chan had predicted. Without a leader, these youmas had been coming in groups, trying to establish dominance over each other. There were also the random youmas, leftovers from each of the evil bosses she had defeated. Within the last month alone, the sailor senshi were called to battle at least twice a day. Serena herself was often faced with at least two more additional youmas by herself. These attacks had grown so frequent and sudden that she had taken to finishing them off herself, knowing that her senshi were not as strong as her, and needed to replenish their magick and strength – she at least had the silver crystal's energy to draw from. But with the increase in attacks, and the drain of energy it placed on her, Serena knew it was only a matter of time before even she wore down completely, before she made a fatal mistake that would cost her or one of her guardian's lives. The senshi had noticed she was more tired and tardier than usual, but passed it off as another one of her blonde habits.
Serena was just frustrated with her life. She was tired of being a sailor senshi, tired of going to school, tired of getting no sleep, tired of being yelled at, and tired of putting up this whole façade of this dumb blonde ditz! Pluto had told her everything would be calm after the defeat of Chaos. Groaning, Serena wondered why she ever listened to the mysterious Guardian of Time. For all she knew, Pluto has just jinxed any moment of peace they had going for them.
Throwing an arm over her eyes, Serena looked up just in time to see the sun come out from a group of dense clouds. Blinking a few times at the sudden light, she hopped off the bench and towards the lake, a place that gave her both a sense of peace and serenity. Lightly humming as she skipped over the cracks in the sidewalk, the teen blonde wondered what the future had in store for her. Despite having been to her own future, seen Chibiusa and what not, she was having trouble dealing with the fact that it was all preordained and set in stone. Would she have no say in the matter? Was her whole life forever to be given to the cause? Mumbling to herself, Serena finally reached the lake, startling a few early joggers at her odd behavior.
Paying them no attention, she sat by the bank near a batch of lilies, continuing her odd little tune. What use was there in life if there was no element of chance? Of coincidence? Serena was a girl who valued life and all its properties. Sure, she was young, naïve, but she was also giving and full of life. To have something as precious as the gift of life seem all of a sudden so blasé, was like a blow to her very threshold of hope. But most of all, Serena felt lost. She had no perception of who she was, being placed into the role of Sailor Moon, and then as the leader of the senshi, and still more, with the discovery of the moon princess. Serena never had the time between the prophecies, the youmas, the crisis' to ever question her wants and desires, and who she truly was. And it was now, that these questions emerged in her mind.
She knew who Sailor Moon was, the champion of love and justice, the guardian of the moon and the leader of the sailor senshi. She knew who the moon princess was, a graceful young woman with immense amount of power and prestige. Sailor Moon was a warrior, the moon princess an entity of the past… but who was Serena Usagi Tsukino? By day the bumbling, but adorable blonde klutz, by night the warrior Sailor Moon, these two personas were enough to drive even the strongest of minds insane. Had she been alone in her purpose, as properly ordained by the Powers that Be, she would certainly have lost her sanity by now. For that concession, Serena was glad she had friends that understood. They were her anchors, and even though they couldn't see past that charade she put on for the world, they were there for her in so many other ways. Even Motoki, Naru and even Umino-chan tied her to normal life.
Smiling wistfully to herself, Serena saw the sunny side of the situation. Had she not been called to her destiny, she would never have formed the strong friendships she had. And that was worth all the battle scars in the world.
A scream sounded off in the distance. Now? It's so early in the morning! Why do youma have to have such a warped sense of time?? This is sooo unfair!! Uggh! I can't believe I thought this could ever have been a good thing. Serena grumbled as she sprinted off in the direction of the scream. Yet another youma attack and yet another day in the life of Sailor Moon.
So the young warrior made her way back into the world of life for now. All was quiet… for now.