The starry, night sky was suddenly lit up by the bursting of many multi-colored fireworks. Along the walkways were crowded by masses of many people, laughing, talking, and having fun. However, on a park bench, just on the outside of the glittering lights and sounds of the carnival, sat a slender young woman.
Any who passed, would marvel at her beauty, her firm slender body, dressed in a simple, yet stylish, pale green, medium sleeved dress and short skirt. Her long blond hair was set up into a "meatball" style, with two long streaming tails flowing down her sides, and bright blue eyes. Yet, if anyone looked closely enough, they would see that those lovely blue eyes were not glittering with their usual sparkle. Serena Tsukino sat alone, staring up at the moon and starry sky, and wondering how her life could have become so bad.
'Why can't I be like I was before.... Rei and the others are right...I'm a failure, I'm always late, and klutzy, and a total crybaby.... Maybe I should just give up and step down from being leader of the sailor scouts...' Sighing, Serena looked down at her hands, folded in her lap.
'Ohhh Paige...how I wish you was here with me right now... You always seemed to know what I needed before I did...you were always there when I needed help...well now I need help and I don't know who to turn to or what to do.'
'I've always been here Sere...all you have ever had to do is call for me....'
Serena suddenly jerekd her head up, her eyes widening as she heard the strange yet familiar voice inside her mind. 'Am I Dreaming?.... Paige is that you?!'
Hearing a soft laugh inside her mind, Serena blinked back tears as she recognized that sound, one she hadn't heard since she had been eleven years old. 'Yes Sere, its me...Turn around, there is something you need to see'
Very Slowly, Serena turned half her body, looking behind her, half-afraid of what she may find. At first she saw nothing but trees and night time shadows because of a cloud hiding the moon. Suddenly as if commanded to do so, the cloud flittered away and the light of the full moon shined down upon the park once more, revealing the figure of a young woman.
With an easy grace, almost uncanny to any human being, the young woman stepped further out of the shadows, her long lean, yet curvaceous, body showed off to perfection in the black jeans and buttoned collared shirt she wore. The woman's long, ankle length, black hair was set within a simple braid hanging over the woman's left shoulder. The shining clear silver grey eyes looked upon Serena softly, a small smile gracing her face.
Serena blinked once, then yet again gazing upon this graceful beautiful creature...her brow furrowing slightly in thought. 'She looks so familiar...but I can't think of where I've seen her before.' Serena's thoughts break as the stranger softly spoke.
"Hello, Sere...It�s been a long time...I've missed you."
Serena's eyes suddenly widen in shock 'that voice! I know that voice! Its...' "P-P-Paige?!"
Upon hearing the Name, Pagan smiled and nodded. "Yes Serena, it's me...and no I'm not a dream or a ghost."
"But.... they told us you were..."
"Dead?"
Nodding her head slowly, Serena quietly stared at the other woman...not noticing that she has risen to her feet. "Hey Remember the time when, you and I snuck over to old lady Grayburn's house and snitched four of her hot apple pies off of her windowsill?"
Serena gasped softly, her expressive blue eyes widening, revealing emotions of shock, amusement and over-whelming joy. With a wordless cry, the young blonde suddenly ran the distance between the two, straight into the open arms of the elder.
"Ohhh Gods Paige.... I have missed you so much! When they told me that you, and Uncle Sam, and Aunt Amanda were dead, I felt as if a part of me died to."
Pagan's silver, gray eyes softened as she wraped her arms around her beloved cousin, and softly rubbed her back, comforting the weeping young woman.
'Shhh....everything is going to be alright Serena...I'm here now and NOTHING or NO ONE is going to hurt you again. That I can promise.' Pagan spoke softly within Serena's mind.
"Now dry those tears Serey kitty.... If my eyes do not deceive me, there is a carnival just over the rise...wanna come with me, and remember old times? get a bite to eat, and basically have some fun?"
Pulling away from her, Serena softly giggled at the old nick name that only Paige called her, and swiftly nods her head. Wrapping a protective arm around Serena's Shoulders, Pagan began to walk towards the glittering lights of the festival.