A PITTED ASTEROID ORBITING THE EARTH'S TALE
Chapter 5: Watchful Eyes
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
STATUS:
31 REVIEWS
4 HELPFUL REVIEWS
0 FLAMES
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. And if you sue me, my depression would lead to further heights than it already is. It is hopeless. Not only am I poor, with my two rubbed out cents, and my piece of lint (now being sold STILL for TWO frickin cents), but I am a desolate person, cramped down with the work that is school. In short, to sue me would bring more misery to the wretched creature that is me. And what good Samaritan would do that? So please don't sue. Oh, and all the credit for these wonderful characters and stories go to Naeko Takeuchi of Sailor Moon and J.R.R. Tolkien of Lord of the Rings. *sigh* Blessed be.
LAST TIME ON PITTED ASTEROID: Sailor Moon pounded a nearby tree with her frustration. A few days ago, he seemed a malicious intruder bent on taking her, and violating her innocence. And now, he appeared as a voice of reason, cautioning her… but about what? And she had yet to discover his name.
Mentally noting that to a list of other questions she had to ask of him, Sailor Moon went back to the Crown, after ducking into an alley and reverting back to Tsukino, Usagi, 16 year old of Juuban. A frustrated as she felt, it would not be wise to let the whole of Juuban see the sailor soldier of the Moon play out her anger.
Next time, however, she would be ready.
*Enter hopping blue alien reminiscent of Space Jam with a squeaky voice* Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and those of unknown genders, I welcome you to the fifth installment of A Pitted Asteroid Orbiting the Earth's Tale. It is a tale of love, loss, and most of all *voice wells to a manly deeply-ness* BLOODY VIOLENCE AND GORE… Ahem. *resumes squeaky voice* Now on with the show *Hopping blue alien with squeaky, and sometimes booming voice, disappears in a puff of pink smoke as the lime green curtains open once more.*
A Pitted Asteroid Orbiting the Earth's Tale
Chapter 5: Watchful Eyes
Usagi had returned to the Crown, picked up her things, and bade her farewells to the rest of the senshi. By now, the sun was just about to set, and Usagi was glad to be headed home in time for dinner. She barely got to see her family anymore. Humming slightly, she entered the doors of her home, and was greeted with silence. Shrugging, she figured her mother was still out shopping, her father still at work, and her brother over at a friend's house. The Tsukino family was a busy one as of late.
Dumping her things in her room, Usagi, lay back on her bed, reflectively pondering about all the recent events. Her mind drifted back to that day her mystery stalker had first appeared at the Crown.
****
After he had vanished into thin air, she had left the Arcade. It was mid-afternoon as Usagi hurried home, heedless of all that went past her. She was in a daze after seeing the face of her tormentor, and barely escaping his clutches, although she knew deep down, that little ploy was more of just a show of power, than a true threat.
Colors blended upon each other, red became blue, white became green, until it was all just an endless tunnel of bizarreness. The world's sense of proportion twisted out of grasp and back again, as it does often to those who have gone through such experiences. She had returned home that fateful night, nodding a hello to her mother who was diligently cooking dinner, kissing her father lightly on the cheek as he read the newspaper, and scowling darkly at her brother who as usual, was teasing her. Making her way up to her room as always, Usagi had plopped on her bed. It was then that the recent events rushed at her, threatening to suffocate her into an eternal torment.
She remembered that she was overwhelmed with the feeling to clean herself, to rid herself of her stalker's disgusting advances. She rushed to the bathroom, and stripped herself of her clothes, burning under the hottest water available. Gritting her teeth, she began to scrub herself vigorously, until her skin was tinged with red from the force of her ministrations.
Usagi began to tremble and then slid down the wall, clutching herself against the shower, and sat there, rocking back and forth, until the water had long grown cold. Tears streamed down her face as she gingerly stepped out of the shower, unable to break away from the vulnerability that she felt.
I am disgusted with myself. I am no protector. How can I live with who I am and go on? This… This CAN'T be me! I'm Sailor Moon!
Wrapping her slim figure in a towel, Usagi glanced at her steam filled reflection in the mirror. She tentatively reached a hand out, wiping away some of the mist that had settled, trying to peer at herself in the heavy steam.
She looked terrible. Red rimmed, swollen eyes, with red skin that still burned from the heat of the shower. She ached, both physically and emotionally.
She couldn't help by smile wryly at the metaphorical irony that was presented to her in the mirror. Like her reflection, she too reflected inner turmoil and confusion. She was no definite person – she was quite undefined, flitting from different lives. Like the hazy outline of her image, Usagi too had yet to find her mark in life.
She was never given that chance to grow up and find herself. She was called as Sailor Moon, a fierce warrior, or Princess Serenity, heir to the Moon Kingdom, or Tsukino Usagi, student of Juuban, daughter of Kenji and Ikuko. But even those were mere titles, just names to different faces of the same soul, the same spirit – they meant nothing to her.
***
Usagi got up from the bed, coming back to the present, and away from the events of a few nights ago. The past was the past. She must move on.
She would be stronger. She had to be.
But unknown to Usagi, it was not a matter of choice, of willing herself to be something she was not. As time grew, the different entities that Usagi was, were beginning to mix themselves, and blending, becoming a salad of sorts – each one separate, yet thrown together to create a somewhat appealing whole. As a result, either one persona would dominate, leaving the other two to fade away, or Usagi would have to find a balance.
***
Pluto, the Guardian of Time, watched from her solitary post as her charge lay on her bed, lost amidst old memories. She sighed, weary for the poor girl and the hard times ahead.
Things had only just begun.
***
Usagi lay in her bed, drifting lightly between the land of consciousness and dreams. Tonight she would not be dreaming her usual dream as of late. The little girl would not make an appearance. Instead, something more was waiting.
*Flash*
Usagi found herself in a black void. Moments before, she had seen, as if a part of a memory, a girl fading into a cave through some unknown captor. She had called out – but it was useless, and now found herself in a void of nothingness. That memory was over, and something else had begun, something she could not comprehend…
She was completely naked, and curled up in fetal position, floating in the abyss of absolute nothingness. "Hello?" she cried out to the darkness, "Is anybody there?"
Whispers.
Usagi glanced around, concerned and curious. "Is somebody there?" she asked tentatively.
The whispers began again, and then faded off, as if someone had turned up the volume, and then slowly, most agonizingly turned it off.
"Hello? Please come out," Usagi called again.
She felt her body pulled being pulled, in which direction it mattered not, as she was floating, suspended in midair. A swirl of lights encased her body, wrapping themselves around her, touching her, caressing her, enveloping her in unbelievable warmth, as she was drawn to a standing position, clothed in a white gown. It was not like her princess garb, but no less elegant. Usagi glanced down at herself, 'flowy' she thought, for that was the term that came to mind.
Indeed, the material seemed to flow like a white waterfall, wrapping around her body and trailing away in little rivulets of ribbons and cloth, forever and ever. Her sleeves were slit at the shoulder and trailed down to her ankles, curling demurely at the tip. Her hair, which previously was unbound, now lay in its traditional 'odangoed' style, with white streamers twisted through it.
She felt like a princess, like a lady of court, cultivated and powerful.
It's interesting how clothes make the man, erm, woman, in my case, she reflected.
After the lights faded away, Usagi felt another pulling sensation tugging at her gut. Following her instinct, she floated, her dress trailing behind her, emitting a soft, pulsating glow, which was her only light in the surrounding darkness.
Spotting a strong beam of light, Usagi stopped moving, glancing curiously at the distant brightness. All of a sudden she began to move faster, chasing after the light, in hopes of reaching it before it blinked away.
There, as if presented for her unique viewing pleasure, lay a red, red rose.
It lay there in the spotlight, a small circle of light encasing its beauty, separating it from the world around it. Usagi hovered over the rose, curious. Why was it here? Why was she here?
"Serenity,"
Startled, Usagi looked around, her attention diverted from the rose.
"Hello?"
"Serenity, my love."
"Endymion? Is that you?"
"Serenity, dear heart, don't be scared."
"I, I – Scared? What do you mean? What's there to be scared of? Endymion? Where are you?" Usagi called out into the darkness, her voice frantic as she searched for the source of his voice, "Why won't you show yourself?"
"Patience, love. All will come in good time. Don't be scared my hime [princess]."
"Endymion! What are you talking about?"
"Don't be scared of what's to come."
"What's coming? Endymion!? What's going on? You're making me nervous! Where are you? Why won't you show yourself?"
"You must be strong, Sailor Moon, for the others. You are a warrior. You must perform your duty well. Other people depend on you for their safety. You shall bear their pain, and your own. For that, you must be strong for us all."
"Endy? I… what are you saying? Come here! Where are you?"
Usagi heard the swish of a cape, and saw that she no longer wore a white dress, but her sailor uniform, minus the enormous angel wings. Her three layered skirt fluttered lightly in an unknown breeze.
"Tuxedo Kamen? [Tuxedo Mask] What are you doing? What's going on?? Will someone just tell me what's going on?"
The whispers were back, louder than ever. The pink staff Sailor Moon had been carrying clattered to the ground as she clamped her ears in the roar of whispers.
'STOP!' she cried out mentally, and suddenly there was naught but silence.
Ribbons encompassed Usagi once more as she reverted back into her civilian form, donned in her school uniform of blue, white and red bow.
"Mamo-chan, anata wa doko desuka? [Where are you Mamo-chan?]"
"Right here, my silly little bunny," An outlined figure stepped into the darkness, but Usagi was unable to see his face.
"Mamo-chan, wakaranaiyo! [Mamo-chan, I don't understand!]"
"Usa-ko, don't be scared."
"But I'm not, what's there to be scared of?"
"Follow your heart, Usa-ko. Follow it, for it will always be true to you, no matter what."
"Wh- What? What do you mean? Mamo-chan, you're not making any sense!"
The figure stepped into the light, right up to Usagi, and she could see his face, the face of her Mamoru. He lifted a hand to her cheek, stopping just before he touched it, a caress in mid-air.
"Remember, Usa-ko, you are never alone. I will always be here… my little bunny." He moved to place his hand above her breast where her heart lay, and Usagi was surprised to see it go right through her.
"Mamo-chan? Nani… [What…]"
He was gone, nothing but an apparition. And Usagi was pulled back to where she had begun, plunged into a dark abyss, floating in the middle of nothing, and curled up in a ball with nothing on.
Usagi was beyond frustrated at this point. Nothing made sense. If this were a dream, she wanted desperately to wake up. Growling slightly, Usagi nearly howled in anger, but was stopped by an all-encompassing voice.
"Do you see?"
Usagi snapped her head up at the voice, one hand automatically going to her chest where her locket usually lay. Finding nothing but her skin, she whimpered, but remained silent. She had to get out.
"Do you see?" a voice repeated, a bit more insistent.
The whispers grew around her, and she felt herself being watched, being judged. A flash went off, and when she blinked her eyes open, Usagi found herself in the white dress once more, with a spotlight trained directly on her.
Standing up, Usagi was at her wits end.
"Do I see? DO I SEE?! You want to know if I see? Well let me tell you, at this moment, all I see is darkness! Wonderful, black, absolutely nothing-filled bleakness! You happy now? What kind of a question is that? What am I SUPPOSED TO SEE? I demand to be told what is going on! Who are you? What do you want? Do you get some sort of pleasure in keeping young women in dark places forever and ever? Do you?"
Silence reigned once more, threatening to break her sanity. For the love of Selene! This must end now! She screamed to herself.
"You do not see."
"Yes, I do not. That is correct. You are right. 100 percent correctamundo, bub. Ding, ding, ding! Ladies and gents, we have a winner! I. Do. Not. See. Glad we got that little misunderstanding cleared up. Now can I go? I'm bored. You see, prior to this little parade, I was a bit preoccupied with this thing I like to call beauty sleep, and I'd very much like to get back to that, that is of course, if you don't mind."
The whispers grew up again.
"STOP with the DAMN whispers! If you have something to say, say it!"
Silence reigned supreme.
"She asks too much."
"Oh, I'm SORRY. I didn't realize wondering where I was and why the holy frickin crap I'm in a black void was asking too much!" pausing, Usagi added as an aftereffect, "Ya, know, I know this killer interior decorator, she could really fix this place up! Better yet, you people could bring in major moolah here, with the proper advertisement. This could be one hell of a tourist attraction. I can see it all now: Come Visit the Black Void of Nothingness! Common Grounds for Mysteriously Kidnapping Young Maidens and Holding Them Against Their Will! Try our special Discount Tuesdays Folks!"
"She is not like the others."
"Gee thanks for noticing, and here I thought you were all so uncaring. What can I say, a little uniqueness goes a long way, ya know? I'm a bit... out of the box, as you may have noticed," Usagi replied with a saucy wink in the general direction of the voice.
"Something must be done."
"Now wait just a ding darn second here people! I want some answers! What's going on? Why am I here? What do you want wi – ..."
"You are no longer needed. Be gone, child."
*Flash*
Usagi gasped awake. WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? she thought. Usagi lay on her bed, and pressed a hand to her damp forehead. That was intense. Stupid, snotty, prissy-nosed higher beings. I swear, they screw up my life just for their entertainment.
Glancing at her clock, she was startled to find the time to be nine in the evening. Three hours had passed! Where was the rest of her family?
The vision forgotten, Usagi stood up from the bed, her spine prickling in awareness. Something was off. Usagi strained her ears for any hint of sound, but she did could not pick up her brother's usual trouble making, her mother's pot banging, or her father's paper reading. Perhaps they hadn't come home yet?
Grabbing her brooch next to the bed, Usagi pinned it to her top and silently made her way downstairs. She had one hand on her brooch, ready to call out her transformation, and the other hand lightly traced the stairway rails. The bottom floor of the house was dark, bathed dimly in the light from the street lamps outside.
Where was everybody?
Holding her breath, Usagi cautiously made her way downstairs. She peeked into the kitchen, and then into the drawing room, before pausing in the entrance of their sunroom.
You see, the Japanese people care deeply for nature, and as a result, involve it in many of their traditional rituals. As time evolved to the present, and things changed, the 'sun room' evolved as a tribute to that ancient way of life. It was a common presence in Japanese homes, its original purpose, however, has been long forgotten. In such times, many families used it for various purposes, and in the Tsukinos' case, it was akin to a family gathering room.
The sunroom was wide and spacious. The ceiling was different here, than the rest of the house, and as a result was the coldest room. It was a paper ceiling, with a wooden frame, sealed only by glass. It allowed the pale moonlight to filter in, creating an aura of calm and serenity.
Currently, a lone lamp was lit on the low wooden table that lay in the center of the room.
How odd, Usagi thought, that wasn't on when I came home.
Making her way over to the lit lamp, she noticed that there was something on the table.
A package.
Glancing up and around, as if she were being watched, Usagi carefully picked up the package, her hand stopping at the lamp. Curious, she mused, and turned it over.
Sprawled on the front of the manila colored package, was the name Tsukino, Usagi, in bold, red ink. Raising an eyebrow, Usagi broke the seal and opened the package, taking out the contents inside. Adjusting the lamp, she studied the splayed out papers and gasped.
There were three polaroid pictures.
One was of her mother at the supermarket, paying for groceries; the time: 5:37 pm.
The second was of her father, talking on his cell phone while walking out of the office building he worked in; the time: 6:02 pm.
The third polaroid was of her brother, Shingo, playing in his friend's pool; the time: 6: 19 pm.
Each was taken today, naught but a few hours ago.
Usagi began to shake uncontrollably. Trembling, she turned each picture over, seeing the same message scrawled on the back of each picture, three times total:
YOU ARE WATCHED. BEWARE, PRINCESS.
Usagi promptly fainted, seemingly dead to the world, the polaroids fluttering down to the floor.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
EVERYBODY MUST READ THIS!
I can make no promise as to when Usagi will end up in middle earth, although she WILL do so. I like the way this story is turning out, so I won't rush things and I need to do it my way. This is important because I'm setting up so many things that will be important in the parts that she is in middle earth for. Many of these things are essential to later parts of the story and need to be covered now, hence the lengthy postponement of Usagi going to middle earth. She may go in next chapter, or five chapters from now, I don't know. I write this story as I go with reader response, and I only have a general idea that this, this and this will happen, Usagi will go from point A to Z, but how she does it is unknown. I apologize if anybody is disappointed, but please, stick with me on this. It will SO be worth it in the end. I hope I have all of your support in this decision.
PrincessSerenaXavier: Patience, young jedi, patience! Haha, but once again, thanks for loyally reviewing. I'm glad people are following through on this.
ElvenSailorGirl: WHAT! NONONONONO! I have officially failed as a writer! GRAMMAR!!!! I don't want any grammar errors! Tell me where are they? Thanks for noticing that, I want this story to be as good as possible, and you are helping! Yay you! As for the title… well, dissect it and see if it makes sense. Did anybody else wonder about it? (good eye!) Haha, keep reviewing!
Gujugirl: You are lost? I am not worthy!… =(!!! So where did I lose you? Tell me, so I can fix it! And Review!
CosmosAngel1: *Blush* Patience! Oh and your vote for Legolas is duly noted. Any other comments, like improvements? Keep reading AND reviewing!
Crystal Moon Magic: Once again, thanks for loyally reviewing. I'm glad you are bearing with me, but hopefully she will go to middle earth within two chapters. I'm developing this as I go, so I really have no idea, but I know for sure, by chapter 10 she HAS to be in middle earth. I have plans *laughs maniacally* btw, glad you like the mystery man. Review, review!
DaughterofDeath: ANYTHING ELSE??? Haha, plz? I want to know what you think! Review! (and don't say add a new chapter, of COURSE I'll add a new chapter, I won't drop this story off nowhere!)
Devine-desire: AHH! I love you! You understand my predicament! I want to get Usagi to middle earth fast, and start the wacky escapades, but I also want to make this as mind twisting as possible, and unfortunately that means Usagi going to middle-earth may take a bit longer! Hope you don't mind. Please bear with me and review again! Any criticism? REVIEW!
TO ALL: Thanks for reviewing, please do so again! I love you guys!
We didn't beat the ten review goal! We didn't even meet ten reviews! I am sad! =( I feel SO uninspired! You guys! I worked hard, and no updates for two weeks if I don't get at least ten reviews! PLEASE!
If you read a story, it is only courtesy to respond in feedback, positive or negative, doesn't matter. Otherwise, I think hey, only five pple who read this think it's good enough to respond to, or worth their time, so why should it be worth my time, right?
The bruise-colored button says, "REVIEW! OR ELSE!"
*hopping blue alien comes out and says* DO AS MY MISTRESS SAYS! FOR SHE IS ALMIGHTY! BOW DOWN TO HER GENIUSNESS! MOOHAHAHA! *blue alien is quickly yanked of stage with a red and white striped cane, suspiciously reminiscent of Santa's Workshop Elves… hmmm?*