Seeking Love

Chapter 17

"It seems to be an unruly fate that I would be paired with you," Serenity let her arms and shoulders hang in disappointment. Today was not her day.

"Lucky you!" responded an enthusiastic Endymion, he forced his arm around her shoulders.

The ten of them had drawn numbers to pick pairs. Jadeite was with Makoto; Nephrite with Ami; and Zoisite with Rei. None of the girls looked all too happy, the boys mirrored their expressions. Makoto said something to Mina about switching partners, but the blondie wouldn't have it. This was the time to show off the Moon Kingdom, not be flirting with the boys. Makoto just thought Mina was dandy with it because she got partnered with the Prince – typical.

"Oh look.. you two match!" Mina commented on Endymion and Serenity's outfits. Serenity had chosen to wear a yellow and white polka-dotted skirt, matched with a white tank top underneath a jean jacket. Endymion was wearing his usual black pants, and a baby blue v-neck.

"We don't match at all..." stated Serenity. She was looking herself and her partner up and down.

"Yes you do! You are both wearing summer colors!"

Oh my goodness... fashionable Mina, and Serenity was trusting her with Princess duties.

"This way.." Serenity started walking away from the group, she didn't need to hear added comments from Mina anytime soon.

"We're walking?"asked Endymion.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No. Of course not. Just thought we were going to be taking a ride around town. This is good though, we're going to get plenty of exercise, and I want to see as much as we can."

"You don't have to pretend to be interested."

"I'm not... are we really going to start off this way?"

"What are you talking about 'this way'? I'm fine."

"You're still hung up on our last little tiff! I sent you letters apologizing, you never responded."

"No, You didn't!" Serenity turned around to face the man. Endymion almost collided into her.

"Yes, I did! You probably saw them, but were too 'busy' to read them."

Letters? Serenity didn't remember any letters. Oh my - they would have been addressed to Mina! Stupid stupid! Mina never mentioned them!

"I promise, I didn't get them. If you want to apologize, why don't you? Right here and now." Serenity pointed her finger to the ground, and stomped her foot into the soil.

"Seriously?" Endymion was never good at asking for forgiveness face to face. Ugh... "Okaaay.. I had written down that I was sorry for calling you a heartless and not showing you the proper respect you deserve."

"Wooow.. did a secretary write that for you?" Her skirt twirled around, and she was walking again.

"What do you want me to do? Draw blood with my emotions?" Endymion chased after her. Her pace had doubled.

"Whatever," Serenity flipped her hair over her shoulders. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll forgive you. Let's get going."

"Where are we going?"

"First off, I need to go somewhere first – then we can go wherever you want. I know this whole place from every rock to every tree and person."

Endymion let his eyes wander to where the power walking girl was taking him.

"I thought you said we were using our feet?"

"I never said anything of a sort. We'll be taking horses. Here, you can have Platinum, I'm taking Meteorite," said Serenity.

They were in a large stable, the smell of fresh hay and manure swarmed the air. Endymion never had a fond liking of the beasts. When he was a boy, a horse tried to eat his shirt right off of him – yep, that was a bad experience. Hopefully one not to be repeated.

"I thought you guys just teleported everywhere?" asked Endymion.

"That would be silly, you can only teleport within the palace walls. Just think of this as taking the scenic route."

Platinum was a muscular horse with a shiny coat. The hair on the horse literally looked liked the metal element. Serenity came clopping around the corner on a midnight black horse. Little flecks of burning red flared through the coat, her horse looked strong, but for a horse – intelligent. Something like an old wisdom reflected out of the horse's deep set black eyes.

The pair started at a nice pace, no galloping, just a slow walk. Endymion noticed the passage of quite a few beautiful homes. Nothing like the palace, but still houses that called for admiration. There seemed to be plenty of room, no overpopulation. Not an ounce of pollution sat in the air, and there was greenery everywhere. Compared to Earth, this seemed like a real planet. Of course, he would never admit that to Mina.

Forty minutes down the road, Serenity dismounted, and tied her horse up against a white fence. "We're getting off here. The family who lives here are close friends of mine, and they will take care of the horses until we get back," Serenity explained while tapping on the door of a homey looking cottage. There were heart printed drapes in the windows, and a few pear bushes in the front yard.

"Are you sure? This place doesn't look like the houses we were passing earlier. These people look more like... peasants.. can you really trust those type of people to take care of your horses?"

"Kunzite, I'd appreciate it if you didn't question who I trust. I know what I'm doing. I do live here, so just follow me. These people are some of my dearest friends, and I'd like you to meet them."

A little boy came to the door. "Mother.. Mother.. she's here!" he squealed out of his tiny mouth. The boy began jumping up and down in his little yellow jumper.

"What? Has she finally come to visit?" A lady that looked to be in her late 40s came up behind the little boy. "Hello dear!" and embraced Serenity with her motherly arms. "I'm glad you are back from visiting the Earth Kingdom. Was the planet dreadful? We heard rumors that the guards were a disaster, and that there was a battle." The woman's face revealed a parents worry over her young, and she put her hands on Serenity's face looking for scars of any sort. "It doesn't look like you got beat up or anything, but those Earth people – they need to get their act together. I'm just glad you made it back safely!"

Serenity's face was in a deep blush. "Ummm.. Kate!" Serenity stammered. The woman stepped back finally noticing that she had more then one guest. "Sorry if I worried you, but as you can see I came back all in one piece." Serenity went to grab Kunzite's arm, and she pushed him forward. "I would like you to meet one of the Earth Kingdom's generals. This is Kunzite. Kunzite, this is Kate McCarthy"

Now it was the lady's turn to go bright red. "Oh, I'm so flippy, I didn't mean to criticize the Earth Kingdom" Kate began to fan her face. "Sorry about that. It's just that the Princess is so dear to us. She is truly our heart, so everyone was worried that she had gotten hurt."

"Don't feel bad, I didn't take any offense. You were merely stating the truth," Endymion said. Serenity's eyes grew wide. Was that his apology? She thought. Endymion continued, "Unfortunately we were not able to protect the Princess or her guardians as well as we had hoped. It did however show us our flaws, and we are working on them now. I'm sorry for causing your community concern." He bowed his head to the lady in the door.

"Oh, no worries my dear. As I said, she's looks as strong as ever. What can I do for the lovely couple?" Kate asked.

Endymion and Serenity's faces twisted into a pained awkwardness - like they'd bitten into a lemon expecting the flavor of an orange. "We.. we're not together. Well, we are, but not like that Kate." Serenity stepped a few inches away from the baby blue shirt touching her skin. "Anyway, could you take care of my horses? I am planning to take Kunzite to the market. Unfortunately, I don't know how long we will be."

"Of course, of course my dear. Don't worry a bit.. we will gladly take care of them. Anything for you dear." Kate said with a huge smile on her face. She talked like she was walking on egg shells.

"Thank you," replied Serenity along with the standard Moon bow. "Come on Kunzite, we are going to the market." Turning around she started running back down the road.

"Wait up Mina! You shouldn't be running like that in a skirt!" Kunzite was on her heels, she was a quick one.

Why would anyone call the Princess, Mina? Kate wondered to herself in deep puzzlement. Men, who knew what went on in their brains.

"This is our largest sport stadium! Here, we play moon ball!" Makoto excitedly explained. She continued to point out how the game was played. There was one hydro-disc, a disc made of water that was created to stay frozen. It was passed between members of a team to one end until it was thrown threw a goal. The other team could try to intercept the disc, and play defense while the game was in play. Jadeite looked at the field, from a distance it looked like a normal green field, but when they got closer. There were poles that were a foot in diameter, and spaced 3 feet apart. The players had to be able to concentrate on the game, other players, and where they were stepping so they didn't fall into the water below.

"Doesn't seem that hard, but who would want to get themselves sweaty over such a simple sport? It doesn't even look like it needs that much skill," surveyed Jadeite.

"You haven't played it. Imagine it like 'ice dancing.' It doesn't look like it's that hard, but that's just because the athletes are just that good. Maybe we should go for a round or two, and then you can think about your statement again." Makoto had no clue how Rei got along with this man. He was as cocky as they could come.

"This place is made out of 100% man made materials huh?" asked Nephrite. He was with Ami, she was showing him the database center, and power reserve of the Moon. They hadn't traveled far from the palace. They were actually 1,000 feet below the surface, a simple elevator shaft that made him claustrophobic.

"Yes, we haven't been able to sustain it with reusable materials yet. Plus, the cooling system we need is still using old technology. We are in the process of trying to get our rain cycle to help the process along to a new modern use," replied Ami. "Actually, only 50%f the stored energy here is used on a daily basis. Our advancements are coming along, but only after they have been reviewed by the board – me, and not many have caught my eye."

"You know your stuff then. What else do you do for fun?"

"This is fun..." Ami was confused about what the brown haired man was asking her. Technology was her life. Being part of a primitive species, and helping her kind dominate the food chain and protecting their survival was her goal in life.

Nephrite was already forming his suspicions about the blue bob spouting off more numbers. He saw her only as a calculator made out of cement. She rarely seemed passionate about the life she was helping to improve. It was as if her best friends were made up of computer chips and wiring.

In another sector of the planet, Zoisite and Rei were also having similar problems as the other pairings. Rei's ideas about religion were in a traffic jam with Zoisite's straight cut ideas of evolution and science.

"What do you mean you don't believe in the Gods and Goddesses? Who do you think created us? Who do you think gave us these powers?" asked Rei in a mad frenzy.

"I don't think you'll like my answer, but none the less, I think it is all due to a scientific anomaly. Due to many smaller events that happened at the right time, an outcome of your powers and life exist. I have done the research, and have come to the conclusion that coincidence is how many things have come to how we are today. Think about it, if one gene in your DNA had been a Y instead of a X, you wouldn't be the Princess's protector."

Rei was appalled of the idea. It was her birth right that she had been honored to protect the Princess before the day she was born! It was a prophecy written over a century ago that her family had kept at the shrine. She was ready to throw the biggest fire ball at this man's face, she could feel it building in her hands, and was already imagining the long blonde hair of his singing to a perfect crisp.

"Come on, you don't actually believe in those?" asked Endymion. They were halfway through the busy shops when they came upon a tarot reader. The crinkly skinned lady looked so old that the skin of her eyes dropped like a second lid, even when her eyes were supposedly open. She wore a sage green pashmina scarf that contrasted against her bright neon pink hair. When you're that old, you get to do whatever, and that old lady owned it.

"I do.. sort of. It'll be fun," coaxed Serenity, she had been trying to convince Kunzite to go in for ten minutes now.

"Aren't they used to see who you'll marry, how many kids you'll have.. that sort of thing?" questioned Endymion. "...But if you think this is really part of the Moon experience, then okay."

Both of them sat down across from the reader. No words were exchanged, just an outstretched hand asking for money. Serenity quickly found three coins to empty into the lady's hand.

The pile of cards were shuffled. The old lady spread them out on the table, and then moved them around in a clockwise fashion while mumbling under her voice.

"Mmmmmmm... Mmm..." hummed the lady. Then she hacked up a few chokes for air. Probably dust that had collected in her ancient voice box. Flipping over a card, a woman dancing within a green wreath appeared - the world card. "In your past I see, not to see. A place that glowed, a place unknown. You are travelers who have witnessed a rebirth." Next came the wheel of fortune card. "In the present, a jewel trying to hide itself among the rocks. A mismatching pair of socks! Many changes, but these challenges will bring luck upon thee." A third card was turned over, the lovers. "Ahhh... In your future, I see compassion, a familiar scent. Darkness is also brewing, barely spent."

The pink hair bobbed over the cards. She brought down her over sized nose and swept her nostrils against the stack. She retrieved one more card - the Tower. "There is a war coming, and many dark truths that are not what they seem. Many false beliefs, false institutions, a false structure will come tumbling down..." The opal eyes of the reader seared into Serenity. "You.. OUT! OUT!" The old lady's hair fell from it's pins atop her head, and her hands were shooing the two away in a a panic; as if trying to cast out a disease.

"That was... interestingly ridiculous," said Endymion, once they were back out onto the street.

"Never had that bad of reaction before. What do you think all those things could mean?"

"Mismatching socks? I don't think that could be interpreted in any other way." He had put on a black and blue sock that morning. Old lady probably saw them and made the whole mumbo jumbo up.

"You're probably right, but watching an old lady make rhymes off the top of her head - that was entertaining."

"I swear I saw a few spiders come out of her hair she was so old."

"That's just rude," Serneity teased.

It was close to noon , and the two decided it was time to cater to their stomachs.

"I would guess you know where there's good food around here," assumed Endymion. They had just passed what was suppose to be 'little Earth town' a section of the city where 'all things Earth could be found.' From the look of things, it didn't seem so. Just souveniors of the blue and green globe. Blankets, mugs, calendars, and even slippers of the planet; that was about it. It was sad to think that was all his home planet had come to.

They walked by a small cafe. It smelled of fresh pastries and Endymion stood nose to glass looking into the window at the delicassies. They looked too good to eat. He would have to send his chefs here to come practice these recipes.

Serenity sat down at a small white table while Endymion pulled the chair out for her. 'Hmmm.. maybe he is a gentlemen after all.' This general was surprising her left and right, it was as if a switch had been flipped. She was just waiting for a shortage to come about and break the circuit.

During lunch they talked about how Takeshi's trial would go. There wasn't much to say. Conversation moved on to more personal topics once the food had been ordered. Serenity had her usual, a salad with an inordinate amount of toppings. Endymion had closed his eyes hovering over the menu, picking whatever his finger landed on - a salmon wrap.

"So, what were some of your childhood dreams? You must have had some, you're not a robot like Ami are you?" asked Endymion with a raised eyebrow.

"My dreams? I was barely allowed to have any, but false realities- I had plenty of those. I always wanted to do simple things. Since I was little girl, I've always been surrounded by people who were telling me what to do. It seemed I never had anytime by myself, even though I was an only child." Serenity let her mind wander. A smile of an unrequited wish spread across her face, her hands clasped beneath her chin while her mind rewound to the past. "There was a time, when I wish I could take a small wooden boat all by myself into the middle of a lake. It would be the perfect day; clouds, sun, but a breeze to cool the air. I'd row out there, and then just lay in the bottom looking up into the endless blue sky. There, in my boat, time would have no meaning. I would be a simple little girl.."

"Now that is a fantasy, not one I've heard of before however." Endymion was surprised her wish was so wistful, and not full of more child-like fantasies. Such as those he had heard from other women. Becoming a Princess, or winning the Moon Doll sweepstakes.

"Ya? Well, what's one of yours? It's only fair if you cough one up as well."

"Who said I play fair?"

"Oh, come on!" Serenity protested. She flung a purple ripening grape from a fruit bowl at his face.

"Hey, hey, hey! You never said you were going to torture me with small pieces of round fruit! I guess.. I'm going to have to give in huh?"

Serenity nodded in agreemet.

"My childhood dreams?" Endymion really had to think, he had buried them a long time ago with many other memories. "I remember I wanted to go space exploring. My father and I use to watch old astronaut films where they went to adventure into the unknown. There was this one planet someone had created, a DARS film that was on a disc. The place was so surreal, colors I'd never known at the time were splashed on the screen. Whatever the director had in mind, it came across as the most elegant piece, but also mystifying and dark. As if danger would be right around the corner from the bliss. I don't even remember what the plot was about, but it inspired me to want to explore. Of course, later I found out about all the filming techniques they used and that the whole project was done in a 1,500 sq. ft. building. That ruined the magic for me, but somehow as a boy I believed it all to be real."

"That must have been a reality check. To think something so beautiful could be created with a camera crew and props. I would have been devastated. It's like - when you find out the tooth fairy isn't real. Growing up, that's something I wish now never happened."

"No kidding! Now that is probably the first time I have agreed with you on anything!" stated Endymion.

Earth Year: 22nd Century 57th Earth Cycle

"If thy people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from our God and he will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Taki had been listening to his sponser's grandiose speech for an hour now. A light punishment for finishing his training. Etsu and Taki had been under the sponser's care for 18 months now, or so he tried to keep count. The first month was the worse. The lessons, and the training were brutal. They didn't even know the name of their sponser, they just addressed him as Sir. Over the days, Taki could slowly feel the muscles beneath his skin transforming, but the quick change in them cost him a lot of pain. They still lived in the sewers, but not in the parts Taki knew, and he thought he knew them all. It was a place completely devoid of light. His visual senses were blocked out, and he had to rely on his other four. Every minute of everyday the only voice he heard was the Sir's. The doctrine slowly became embedded into his heart. How the walkers above had become sick, and that they needed to be turned back upon the path of righteousness. Sin had swept the people, and they forgot where their loyalty should lie.

Taki was to become a soldier, but a soldier for whom? He hadn't heard a word of Etsu. He was also deep into training as well. Only his huffing breaths as they lifted bricks and dodged flying rocks did he hear his friend. During the long hours, Taki heard other breathing as well, other orphans taken in by Sir? The darkness the group lived in lasted the whole eighteen months. Today was the day, he was to be reborn into the world.

The ceremony started with Sir beginning his usual speech of rights and truths of the world. Taki knew it word for word. Unknowingly, he whispered along under his voice; as did the other children.

"You all have broken a barrier born within you, a power that can only be reached in this darkness – your home and womb. I chose you for your weaknesses, not for your strength. Building you up these path months has been a sacrifice of your life, your first endowment to our God. When I call upon thee, stand and face me with your newfound spirit, and I will give you the new life you have been seeking."

Sir called two boys up, and then it was Taki's turn. He would have been shaking if he had been the same boy four months ago. Now he had been filled with stone, a weight that kept his soul still. He rose upon request, and stepped forward. He felt a cold hand pass over his head, and two others grabbed his shoulders. Walking around the corner, he could feel a hot breath against his skin.

"Taki, I am proud of your efforts. You have proven that you are worthy to become the weapon of our God that we all have believed you would become. Upon thee, I grant you a new name to forge your newfound spirit. Takeshi - A name that shall fill you with it's meaning; a mighty and fierce warrior. Walk into the old world you use to know with the new body and mind we have created. Go on my son! We will call upon you when we are in need."

Takeshi was lead around another corner, and the hands disappeared into the silence. He was alone. Boldy taking steps forward, he had not one ounce of fear in his bones. Even though this was a new tunnel, he could sense the layout like the scars covering his body. Finding a handle, he wrenched a metal door open. Light streamed in, burning his eyes raw. He had to shut them, and cover them with his hands. Spreading his fingers he began looking down at the ground where recognized shadows. A few minutes passed, and he was able to see the objects around him; trees, plants, and a few boulders. All these things he had forgotten. Then looking up into the sky he saw the sun. It's warm rays clothing him back into the world; the world lost to the walking.

Present Day

"Kunzite, come on. Finish your cake, or we're going to miss it!" rushed Serenity.

Serenity looked at her watch, it was close to 1:30 in the afternoon. She had been waiting all day to show something special to Kunzite...

"Now where are we rushing off to? I've barely had the chance to let that strawberry shortcake to digest!" Endymion protested, he was pouting on the inside - it was a fine good cake! The strawberry sauce had been perfectly sugared, and the angel cake was as light as whip cream. Rushing through the streets, nobody was outside. The windows were closed, and doors shut. It was as if everyone was prepared for a plague. Where did everyone go?

I'm going to say this, I really like the end of this chapter. Going on a trip, but will be writing as much as I can. I'll try to post again as soon as possible.