Title:After the Moon.Part 1 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought Five young women could be seen in the clearing of a forest as they played tag with one another.They couldn't have been more than 18 years old. "I got you,Lita!!"laughed a blonde with a strange hairstyle.Her silver- blonde hair was held up in buns while the rest of her long hair fell from the buns. "No you didn't Serenity!!!"laughed the chocolate hair girl with emerald eyes. The blonde stopped.Her clear aqua eyes fixed on her friend's emerald ones.Her red lips turning into a pout. "Awwww...Serry's going to cry."teased a raven haired girl her mischievious violet eyes twinkling. "Cut that out,Raye.I don't cry anymore."said Serenity as her glare turned towards the raven-haired girl. "Says who??"challenged Raye. "Says me."replied Serenity indignantly. "You still cry."said Raye. "Do not!!" "Do too!!" "Not!!" "Do!!" "Not!!" "Do!!" "Pblth!!"Serenity sprayed a raspberry at Raye. And the famous tongue war began. "They're at it again."sighed Lita. "Don't they ever get tired??"asked a dark haired girl. "I think they have a special energy for tongues."said a blonde. "How long do you think they'll be at it??"asked Lita. "I bet you Raye gets tired out first."smiled the blonde. "You're on,Mina."grinned Lita. "I bet Aunt Luna comes out to stop the tongue wars first."said the dark- haired girl. "AMY!!"exclaimed both Lita and Mina. "Well it's true,look."pointed out Amy. Indeed,Aunt Luna was coming out of the cottage they lived in.She had dark curly hair that was tied up in a similar hairstyle to Serenity. She also had dark blue twinkling eyes. "Girls...thats no way for ladies to behave."said Luna wiping her hands on her apron. Amy smiled at Lita and Mina."Pay up." "Sorry Aunt Luna."apologized the two in unison,they're heads bowed low. "Come on,I have an errand for you girls."said Luna. The five girls looked up at the woman in curiousity. "I need you girls to go and get a few items from the village for me." smiled Luna pulling out a list. The five girls sighed,they're expressions drooping. "What's wrong??"asked Luna. "They others in town....they don't like us."sighed Lita. "Now whatever gave you that idea,Lita."questioned Luna. "Well,they always whisper behind our backs and give us strange looks and stares."answered Mina nervously. "Right,I once heard them...heard them....c-call us,freaks."mumbled Amy. "Yes,I mean...whats so strange about us??We're not monsters or anything." said Raye. "We'll never be normal in their eyes."sighed Serenity. "Nonsense,don't fill your head with such silly thoughts.Now I really need those things,girls."replied Luna shooing them off. "Alright...see you Aunt Luna!!"called the five running off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A man with silver-white hair stepped out of the cottage. "Luna,we can't keep them in the dark forever you know,even the Terrans know there's something odd about them."said the man. "I know,Artemis...I know.But I-WE raised them.I'm not about to let them get killed like their parents.We swore when we first arrived on Earth. Swore we'd keep them safe.Raise them as normal Terrans."sighed Luna. "But they HAVE a right to know."pointed out Artemis. "Know what??know they aren't normal??I won't allow it,Artemis.I won't say a word about the past,and neither should you!!"exclaimed Luna angrily. "You're right,I suppose."sighed Artemis hesitantly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The five reached the noisy bustling village.However,the moment they were spotted by the village folk,the whole village went silent.The stares and the hushed whispers as they walked along. "Look...it's them-" "What are they doing-" The five of them walked as quick as they could not stopping to look at anybody.Turning to the market lane,everybody halted the things they were doing to stare at them. Serenity turned to her left and right...everybody was looking and whispering that sounded like buzzing. "IS THERE A PROBLEM!!???"shouted Serenity angrily. With that,everybody else turned away and returned to the things they were doing and looking at. "We'll split the list.It'll be five times faster.The faster we go,the faster we'll finish and be able to leave."suggested Lita. The rest nodded in agreement.Each memorizing a few items,they went separate ways. Serenity reached the farming shop.She needed a dozen chicken eggs and a dozen duck eggs and 5 quarts of fresh milk. "Duck eggs..duck eggs..."chanted Serenity to herself. Buying the necessary things,Serenity saw the shopwoman give her an odd look.Ignoring it,Serenity picked up the things and walked off.Next to the shop was an astronomer's shop.It was new.It hadn't been there 2 weeks ago. Curious,Serenity entered the shop. The pictures of planets and stars fascinated her.Ever since she was young,she had always had an interest in astronomy.Especially about the bright silver moon in the night's sky. "Hello,young lady."came an old voice. "Oh,I'm just looking.."smiled Serenity clutching her groceries to her. "It's quite alright."smiled the old man. "It's so beautiful...you're new here.I never saw the shop before."said Serenity. "Yes,I'm from the Golden City.I've retired.An old man likes some peace and quiet once in awhile."smiled the old man. "But the city sounds interesting.I've heard rumors the monarchy have technology to transport them anywhere in the galaxy!!"smiled Serenity. "Oh,they do...I'm surprised a village girl like you knows."smiled the old man. "Well...there are hardly any of these villages left."sighed Serenity. "Do you live alone??"asked Serenity curiously. "I have,one granddaughter.She's visiting me from the city,currently." "Oh..must be wonderful to live in the Golden City.You'd be able to see the monarchy."sighed Serenity."But what I'd like is to visit other planets in the solar system."smiled Serenity dreamily. "Hahaha...little lady,there isn't any civilization on any other planet." said the old man."I should know,I studied the planets all my life." "Grandfather??Who are you talking to??"came a soft voice. A girl with short curly brown hair stepped from the back. "This is my granddaughter,Molly."introduced the old man. "Hi."smiled Serenity. "Oh,hello...you are??"prompted Molly. "Serenity." "Oh,you're one of the five girls who live in Black Wood Forest.The village people call you weirdoes."said Molly smiling but then realizing her words,she clamped her mouth shut with both hands in embarrasment. "I'm sorry..." "Uh...right.Anyway,nice talking to you,mister.."smiled Serenity as she exited the shop in a run. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Serry,what took you so long???"called Raye. "Sorry!!I got distracted!"explained Serenity. "Serenity,wait!!"called a voice. She turned to see,Molly run after her. Molly saw Serenity ahead with four other girls.Probably the same age as Serenity.They were all beautiful and exuded an unusual aura about them. Reaching Serenity,Molly gasped for breath.Taking a few big gasps of air, she turned to face her. "Look,I'm sorry I called you a weirdo.My mouth ran away with me."said Molly regretfully. "It's alright...I'm kinda used to it."sighed Serenity. "So,no hard feelings??"asked Molly hesitantly. "No.Listen,we reall have to get back,or Aunt Luna is going to skin us alive."answered Serenity. "Okay!!See you around I guess,"smiled Molly waving. "Bye."replied Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Who was that??"asked Mina. "Just some old guy's granddaughter."replied Serenity. "Oh.." "Her grandaddy is a retired astronomer.We were talking about the planets and the moon."smiled Serenity. "Uh-oh...Serry...you know Luna and Artemis disapprove of your fascination with the stars."said Amy. "Yeah..."exclaimed Lita. "I know...but I just don't understand why....she never lets us go out during a full moon either."said Serenity. "Maybe she's scared we'll all turn into...WEREWOLVES."giggled Raye holding one of her hands up pretending it was a paw. "Cut it out,even if we were to turn into werewolves,what difference would inside and outside make??"asked Lita laughing. "So,what did you ask the old guy??"asked Amy. "I told him I'd like to visit other planets."smiled Serenity. "Ugh..not that again,he scoffed at your idea right?"asked Mina. "Right,he said there's no civilization whatsover on the other planets. He said he'd been studying them for years."said Serenity. "I'd like to visit Jupiter..."sighed Lita. "Lita!!I never knew you liked astronomy."exclaimed Serenity shocked. "I don't.I just happened to have a fascination with Jupiter."protested Lita. "What about the rest of you??"asked Serenity eagerly turning to the rest. The other three turned pinkish. "I'd like to see Mercury."smiled Amy. "For me,I'd want to visit the planet of love,Venus."sighed Mina. They stared at Raye waiting for her to say something... "What??"asked Raye. Four pairs of eyes stared at her waiting... "Okay,I admit...I'd like to visit the red planet,Mars."sighed Raye giving up. "See...all of you have a planet you have a fascination with.So I just so happen to be interested in the Moon.There's a full moon next week...and this time,I want to be outside to SEE it!!"said Serenity determined. "Oh,Serry!!Don't!!You'll get into trouble!!"exclaimed Amy. "Sometimes...I wish I could live on the moon."continued Serenity. "SERRY!!"hissed the four. "Don't 'Serry' me,I hate Earth...the village think we're weird.I hate it!!!I wish I was born somewhere else,like the Moon!!"exclaimed Serenity angrily. A shocked gasp came from in front of them. Turning,Serenity saw an angry and shocked Luna which told her she was going to have a very stern scolding from Luna.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Somewhere else~ "I've finally gotten free!!!"laughed a voice."That wretched Queen imprisonned us here for 18 YEARS!!!But now,we've finally gotten free from the wretched power of the crystal.The Dark Kingdom can finally conquer the Universe!!!"laughed the woman. But suddenly stopped.... "The Silver Crystal...it can still be used to destroy us...."muttered the woman. "The Silver Crystal is my only obstacle that seperates me from obtaining ultimate power..."said the woman to herself. After a moment of silence... "I must gather more energy first,if I am to find and kill the Moon Princess,she must be the keeper of the crystal and she will probably on one of the Outer-Planets....fortunately,I know the perfect planet ripe for the energy harvesting..."smiled the woman. Stepping out of the shadows... "Earth....get ready for,Beryl....Queen of the Dark Kingdom!!!!!"she laughed insanely. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Golden City,Earth~ Palace. "Prince Endymion,has been in the library with Zoiscite ever since Zoi mentioned the legend of the Moon Kingdom to him."sighed a blonde. "What do you expect,Jadeite???Endymion has grown up listening to stories of the Moon Kingdom."said a man with mahogany hair and bright green eyes. "So,his great-grandfather claimed he was visited by the Moon Queen." yawned Jadeite."We don't know if that was true.Scientists can find no proof of the Moon Kingdom.If it ever existed that is.There's no trace that a civilization was ever on the moon." "Ah,but you know how Prince Endymion is.From young,he's been saying the Moon Kingdom had been wiped out,that's why there is no trace of the kingdom.And those strange dreams he's been having."said a man with ice eyes and snow white hair. "Those dreams are another factor.The Moon being attacked by some evil force and the heir to the moon being sent to Earth.I'm surprised his parents haven't sent him to a mental institution."sighed Jadeite. "You really don't believe,people once lived on the moon,do you??" "Why should I believe little green men once lived on the moon??There is no proof,Nephrite."groaned Jadeite. "Ah,but the Prince believes....that's why when Zoiscite came across the legend of the Moon Kingdom in Endymion's great-grandfather's diary,he jumped."said Malachite. "All hogwash."muttered Jadeite. "Well let us,join the prince in the library then."suggested Nephrite. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A strawberry-blonde man sat at a table,his bright green eyes focused on the book he was reading.Beside him,was a mountain of books. A man with midnight hair and twinkling ocean blue eyes was flipping through another book. "Well,found anything yet,Prince Endymion???"came a voice. The dark-haired man looked up. "Indeed.I've found a hundred over books about the moon and the legends and myths of the Moon kingdom."smiled Endymion. Jadeite picked up a book that was on the table.Skimming through,he gave a laugh. "What??"asked his companions. "Listen to this,...'A humble farmer swore,18 years ago,he saw a flash in the Black Woods Forest and there stood people dressed in robes and had crescent tattoos on their foreheads.The farmer has recently passed away." read Jadeite. "The farmer probably saw some campers!!"laughed Jadeite. "'The Moon Kingdom was fabled to be a peaceful and powerful kingdom.It's Monarch had enought power to destroy the entire Universe.."read Malachite. "But..my Prince,you said the Moon Kingdom was wiped out."pointed out Malachite. "It has..."answered Endymion looking up. "If the Moon Kingdom was as powerful as it's made out to be,how could their civilization just disappear???Along with the power to destroy the Universe too,"questioned Malachite. "Nobody in the world could wield that much power and not go corrupt." yawned Jadeite unconvinced. "I have to agree with Jadeite.Even the few people on Earth with magic in them,like us,we don't wield magic powerful enough to destroy the Universe,or even a planet for that matter.Not applying to the Prince,of course."said Nephrite. Everyone on Earth knew of the power their prince had.The power to call the very spirit of Earth.Little did they know the power that was destined for him.... "I truly don't know,Malachite.But despite their power,the Moon Kingdom DID fall....and I'm going to prove to you,the Moon Kingdom's existance by finding the missing heir."said Endymion determined to unravel the secret of his strange dreams. "Jadeite....where did you say that farmer say he saw the light??"asked Endymion turning to his general. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Serenity...I know your fascination with the moon and everything.But... I'm telling you this for your own good.One day you'll thank me,but I absolutely FORBID you to speak about the moon or even imagine you could live there!!!"shouted Luna. "Keeping me and the others locked up from the starlit sky is called protecting us??What's so wrong about my dreams??!!About the moon??What's so terrible about it we're forbidden to even LOOK at it??!"screamed Serenity. "It's dangerous!!I don't want you getting any silly ideas.The moon doesn't even have a proper atmosphere for you to even imagine about living there!!!"scolded Luna. "It's DANGEROUS??Looking at it is dangerous??It's no wonder the village thinks we're all weirdoes and loonies!!!"shouted Serenity. "Serenity,I know you love the moon,but-" "WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW???You've never even seen it!!!"cried Serenity pushing past her friends into her room.Her friends ran after her. Luna watched her go,a pain in her heart.Her words had hurt. *Never even seen it...that was ironic.* "Luna??" "I tried so hard Artemis.But I-" "I know you mean well,Luna.But,it's in her blood.It runs in her veins. The Moon...it's part of her."comforted Artemis as he placed an arm over her hunched shoulders. "But...I don't want her to be in danger.I don't want her to die,like her mother."sobbed Luna. "You can't stop it,Luna.You and I know who she is..." "You're right...but I HAVE to keep her safe...I just can't bear it...if- if...something happened to her too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be Continued..... Uh-oh!!!Can anybody say...."Honeeey!!!The Dark Kingdom's back!!!" What's happened to the crescent moon on their foreheads?? Is the Prince REALLY going to come to a small village in the middle of nowhere???Why can't Serry stand under the night's sky and see the full moon??What is the senshi???Meet ya back here for the answers guys!! Email me,before the youma comes!!!!Haaaalp!! :)