Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Descending downwards, time lost its hold over her. Berra couldn't tell if she had been walking for a few minutes or hours. However long it was, any intentions of returning back to the team had dissolved. It was not just mere curiosity leading her on anymore. The grip of the bitter Artic cold began to weaken. Berra noticed some kind of rock replacing the steps of ice.
'Why did I come so far?' She thought, 'And how could I get down here? This isn't right…'
Berra came to a halt. In front of her was a rock wall. It could have been a cave in of sorts, but either way, her musings were cut off.
'Stranger and stranger…'
She reached out with her hands and examined the wall. Berra swallowed her growing panic and stroked the uneven and rough surface. A shiver ran down her back as her ears heard the echoes of something.'
'Basiza… vrni se. Tudhkar.'
"Who's there?" She yelled out, listening out for a reply. But all she heard were the echoes of her own strained voice. Berra felt her legs shaking. She attempted to steady herself by leaning up against the wall.
'Razbirash li? Vakna. Az vaxt var.'
There were bits she could make out. Something about understanding and waking up. Totally nonsensical.
"Maybe I'm dreaming." Berra said aloud, touching her face. "Yeah, I must have passed out."
'Cela n'est pas un rêve. Atsaukt iepriekšējo dzīvi."
She shook her head wildly and sank to her knees. Willing her legs to get up and march back up to the surface, it occurred to her that her legs unexpectedly had no strength.
"Crazy, this is crazy."
"...Wake up..."
At first, she could only perceive darkness. Where ever she was, she could feel no physical sensation. It was if all her senses had been silenced. But slowly, an image came into view. So bright that the darkness flew away from her sight, leaving her there right in it. A city gleaming in the sun of a crystal clear blue. Its white marble and stone walls shone like gold. The Earth Kingdom's capital city, the Golden Kingdom.
Without warning, she felt herself walking through the city's labyrinthine streets and alleys to make it to the centre. As fast as a cat on the prowl for prey, she ignored her exhausted body and only gave herself a break at the sight of the Palace itself. If anyone had seen her, they would have thought her attire somewhat strange. A modest purple and cream dress, more fit more a middle class woman than a noblewoman, coupled with a small amount of elaborate jewellery.
It was early yet, only an hour after dawn. Still, she felt little weariness. The idea of seeing him was enough to for her to get up earlier in order to catch a glimpse of the Earth's Crown Prince. Chances of seeing him in the flesh didn't come often enough, in Beryl's opinion. Her family moved out into their country estate a year ago, and life out there didn't compare to the hustle and bustle of the Planet's capital. Today, the young woman was supposed to be visiting an elderly relative on the city's outskirts. As boring a chore as it was, Beryl was appreciative of the rare opportunity.
'You better be quick about it.' She thought to herself as she entered into an empty side alley, 'Auntie is expecting you at ten. And the Prince doesn't have that much free time to spend outdoors anyway.'
Beryl looked from left to right and sprinted through a disused gate back into the palace grounds. Sneaking past a snoozing guard on patrol, she entered into the private gardens with ease. Once in, Beryl paused for a moment to view the beauty of it all. Though many types of flowers were there with a variety of colour, the area had a subtle tranquillity. Beryl's eyes looked up to see a cherry blossom tree, with small pink buds arranged neatly on every branch, teasing its admirers awaiting for their blooming.
"It's fit for a Queen."
She whispered absent-mindedly. It was a few seconds before she had realised what she said. She swallowed with relief, knowing no one else was around to hear that.
Beryl may have been a noblewoman of a respectable family, but even she knew it was rather foolish of herself to dream of marrying Prince Endymion. Of being Queen of the Golden Kingdom and the Earth. It wouldn't be long before he was engaged and married off to a suitable lady of his family's choosing. And still, she came to watch him. Despite trying to stop herself, Beryl convinced herself that just watching Endymion was enough to satisfy her desire for him.
"Now where is he?" She murmured, trying to push thoughts away of being very close with the Prince. According to her sources, Endymion would always take a walk around the gardens after his morning meal. When she used to watch him from afar in the past, this was the time of day to catch a glimpse of him.
Strangely, he was not by his usual spots. Not under the oak trees or by the jasmine flowers. Beryl was surprised at first but then realised that his schedule may have changed. As much as she wished to accept that and just leave the palace, Beryl sighed sadly. Her feet led her to a handful of rose bushes that were still in bloom. Picking one deep red rose off a bush, she inhaled the distinct scent.
'He's not here. So why are you still hanging about here?' Asked the sensible part of herself. 'Are you asking for the guards to spot and arrest you? What would Father and Mother say?'
'No.'
replied the more stubborn part of her love addled mind, 'Just ten more minutes. He can't always come out at the same time…'
Beryl's thought trailed off. She couldn't lie to herself. If she kept returning to watch him, she would eventually hurt herself in the long run. Tightening her grip on the rose at the thought, Beryl didn't notice the flower being crushed.
'Why must the fates be so cruel? Why couldn't we meet and he realise that I'm the only one for him?' Her hand let go of the dead flower and she leaned on a stone pillar. 'Unless I do something, or luck comes my way, he'll be…'
Giggling caught her ear. Two voices, one being some unfamiliar woman and another sounding deep but kind. A voice not unbeknownst to Beryl. Both were somewhere nearby, not too far off. Beryl walked cautiously deeper into the garden.
"…We should not be doing this…"
"I know, but I really wanted to see you." Said the higher pitched, unknown voice, full of youth and naivety, "I got the perfect chance to slip out from my guard-"
"You know the dangers, you shouldn't risk yourself being spotted by anyone else, never mind us together." Implored the male voice, "I'd be happier knowing that you're safe in your home, rather than worrying every time you come down here."
Her heart quickened. Prince Endymion? It couldn't be.
'Surely this is not what it sounds like.'
The voices came from one of the marble fountains, which were enclosed by two hedges. Perfect for a private rendezvous. All Beryl could make out from her position by the rose bushes was a glimpse of a white silk and lace dress. She tried to calm herself down and figure it out rationally.
'It's just a friend of his…A young girl who sees him as a big brother figure. Or a maid. Yes, a maid who has broken some rule and Endymion is trying to comfort her. A maid could never have a chance with…'
At the very least, her hopes were dashed. But to Beryl, her world fell down that day, smashing the small amount of hope she had left into tiny, unfixable pieces.
There was Endymion and…. A blonde girl. All decked out in a pure white, Silver Millennium style gown, accented with pale gold. Her pale blonde-silver hair in strange bun pigtails had two Palace Garden flowers pinned in them. Her wide blue eyes taking in all the sights around her- the nature of the gardens, the night sky, Endymion- made it clear she wasn't from the Earth. The stupid girl couldn't have made it more obvious. Hand in hand with Endymion.
Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, the heir to the Silver Millennium.
Beryl moved back away from their eyes. Not that it would make any difference. Prince Endymion and that Moon girl only had eyes for each other. The palace could be on fire and they'd be none the wiser.
This was not right. Not right at all.
"You know, I never want to leave you, right?" He said lowly to her. Endymion pulled Serenity into an intimate embrace. "Even if the people of the Moon and the Earth are forbidden by law, society or fate to do this, I'll never want to stop being with you."
Beryl heard a sniffle from the Moon Princess.
"The Fates may be wise, but they are too cruel if we are destined by them to remain apart."
'Cruel? Cruel?' Though she barely made a sound from where she was spying at them, inside Beryl was screaming. 'You don't know the meaning of cruelty, you harlot.'
He took a sharp intake of breath.
"I love you, Serenity."
"And I love you."
For the sake of herself, Beryl had dashed away from the intimate scene beforehand. The couple kissed tenderly, unaware that they had been seen.
After running as fast as she could out of the Palace grounds – and narrowly avoiding being stopped by a guard on patrol- Beryl felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Her heart suddenly felt heavy with grief. She turned a corner, into another alleyway. Pausing for a moment, she turned around.
Only to meet with the darkness once again.
A/N
Thank you so much for those who have been reading so far. I've finished up my first year of college so with all those exams and assignments out of the way, I have devote a bit more attention to this.
The Voice is supposed to be speaking in different languages, since 'it' doesn't really know where Berra is from, or what language she speaks. Just an idea I had. I used Google translate, so I'm aware that any of the languages I used there are probably badly translated - save for le francais, parceque Je le parle. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
