Title:Rebels & Royals.Part 1 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating:PG Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought 31/1/01 To dream is to wish, To wish is to see, To see will be reality. ~*~Tapestry~*~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Princess Serenity of the Silver Kingdom awoke with a start.Her hands shook and her brow was wet.The arguments between herself and her sister came back with full force. ~FLASHBACK~ Princess Serenity stood in the middle of the room as a woman by the windows with pale ice blue hair stared out through the glass of the tower. "Do not indulge in this thirst for vengeance of yours anymore!!Why can't you see sister???It had to happen sooner or later!!"burst Serenity. The woman swung around to glare at her.Her ice blue eyes burning into Serenity. "I crave vengeance because these hellish rebels killed our parents.Or have already forgotten little sister??"snapped the woman. "I have NOT forgotten!!" "Then it should be plain and simple to why I want blood in return for the blood spilled."spat her sister. "All this bloodshed is futile!!Bloodshed just leads to more blood being spilled!!" "Did you not love our parents,Serenity??!!Are you such an unworthy daughter as I think you are now???" ~END FLASHBACK~ Wrapping a robe around her small and fragile frame,Serenity walked to stand at the open window.Her sister had been at it for months.Following in their parents footsteps.Becoming as cruel a ruler as her parents had been. Serenity closed her eyes.She could not blame her sister.She had loved their parents to death.It had been that same love that had blinded her older sister to all her parents actions.The love that had blinded her was just the same as the hatred that was blinding her now.Her sister's hatred for the rebels. Serenity had loved her parents.But did not allow such feelings to blind her perception of the real world.Her heart constricted at the thought.Her sister had accused her of not loving her parents.She had!!She really had!! But she could never blame the rebels for trying to assassinate the entire royal family.Her parents had been cruel dictatorial tyrants. Her eyes shut,trying to block the memories of that awful day.Her parents had been shot.She vaguely remembered the Royal Guard pulling her down and destroying half of the area with their powers. She shuddered.There had been unnecessary fight that day.The rebels had gotten away and the King and Queen were already dead. Her thoughts chilled at the thought of powers. There had been only 10 families besides the Royal line to have powers. Only 5 decendents of 5 families had remained as Royal Guard.Dedicated in their work to protect the Royal line.Believing the rebels were men and women without the discipline which her sister inflicted upon the kingdom everytime. Her sister had called her an unworthy daughter.*Am I really unworthy?? Do I betray my family by not wanting revenge??*wonder Serenity. It was almost dawn when Serenity returned to her bed.She would talk to her sister again about striking a treaty with the rebels.She had to.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A crystal glass crashed to the floor. Serenity stared at her sister's fire blue gaze.Burning with anger and hate.What had happened to her sister??? "I have said it once I will say it again!!Those rebels deserve to DIE!!" spat her sister venomously. "But why??Why can't we just live our lives in peace??What would be so difficult about it Bruche??"pressed Serenity. "Have you forgotten who is Queen here,little sister??I am Queen of the Silver Kingdom.You have no right to judge OR question my descisions." Serenity opened her mouth to speak but one of the Royal Guards burst through the door. Rei.The Royal guard from hell.She just loved to interupt a tirade didn't she???Rei,with her thigh length red hair and red eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei burst into the room and stared at the two royals arguing.At first glance,one couldn't possibly discern they were sisters. The Queen had fire blue eyes and ice blue hair which was tied in a braid. While the Queen's sister,the Princess,had silver white hair tied in meatball pigtails that trailed to her ankles and dark sapphire blue eyes. The only similarity,was both had very volatile tempers when pervoked. "Your Highness,Prince Dimando has just contacted us,and is very sorry to say he cannot make it here just yet,but will try to arrive at a later date."said Rei. "Thank you,Rei."said Bruche. When Rei left,Serenity shot a murderous glance at her older sister. "Dimando??Here??I cannot believe this!!" "Dimando is a childhood friend!!What harm can it do to discuss a perposal of treaty between our two kingdoms??"snapped Bruche. Serenity snorted."YOU didn't even like him when we were children.Only father and mother approved of his visits."spat Serenity. "We were children.I am Queen now.Such trifles must be overlooked."said Bruche a tone of nonchalance in her voice. "You may be Queen,Bruche.But the people hate and fear you!!Dammit,I love you sister,but...the way you rule the kingdom...it's cruelty!!" "I love you too,little sister.There will be NO more discussions."said Bruche with a tone of finality. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity sat in the darkness as she contemplated what she could do.The whole kingdom was in madness.The people lived in fear of the Queen and the Royal Guard.Fear that they would kill them with their powers. She shook her head.She couldn't stay here in the palace.Not under her sister's cruel rule.She had to get out. Donning a normal outfit worn by commoners,Serenity wrote a short note to her sister and slipped out of the palace.She was free!! "I'm sorry sister....I'm sorry,I'm sorry,I'm sorry...."whispered Serenity as she ran,crystalline tears falling from her eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Queen Bruche crumpled the small note in her hand.Her blue eyes burning with anger. *How DARE she...* A knock came from the door and it opened.A woman with lavender hair and bright blue-green eyes entered. "Princess-"the woman stopped as she saw the Queen. "What is it,Iolite?"snapped the Bruche.She had no mood to deal with any of the Royal Guard today.Her sister was always so irresponsible and flighty.She defended those blasted rebels and damned their parents memory. "I beg your pardon,your Majesty.I usually wake the Princess.Has she risen already??"asked Iolite. "Serenity is gone." "Gone??" "She's run away." ~Somewhere in the kingdom~ Serenity sighed as she walked further.She had yet to see any houses or any people for that matter.Sure there had been a few travellers camped around,but except for them,the road was practically empty!! *I never knew the nearest town was so far away.* Looking over her shoulder,she saw the huge palace looming at the horizon.Her sister should have woken by now.Shaking her head,she wasn't going back.She didn't WANT to go back.Turning back to the direction she was headed,Serenity continued to walk. Twenty minutes later,Serenity groaned. *Where in blue blazes was that town????Had she missed it??That wasn't possible right???That traveller had told her to keep on walking and that she couldn't miss it!!* Serenity sat down beneath a tree.She had plenty of time.Of course, unless her sister had sent the Royal Guard out in search of her.She couldn't help but smirk at her predicament.Here was the Princess of the Silver Kingdom,walking and unable to find her way to the nearest town. That was so ironic. "Well..well..what do we have here???" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity's eyes snapped to the man standing before her.She cringed. The man was filthy.A dirty bandana covering greasy hair.The man probably hadn't bathed in days. Four more men came up around her. "How much do you think she's worth??"asked a man with rotting teeth. "A little beauty like her??She's probably worth a few thousand."grinned the first man. Serenity slowly got up,keeping her eyes trained on the men.This was NOT a good day. Large hands grasped her arm.Tightening over her small arm like a steel manacle. "Let go."hissed Serenity. "Not on your life,baby."laughed the man. His breath smelled like rotten fish. "Let go,you marauder!!"swore Serenity. Reacting instinctively,Serenity kicked out and tried to pull her arms away. "Be still you little wretch!!"growled the man as he caught hold of her wrists. "Get your hands OFF me!!"shouted Serenity.She could feel the intoxicating power coursing through her veins.Her hands tingled.If she didn't power down soon,there was going to be some SERIOUS damage done. "Hold the little witch!!"ordered the man to his companions. Serenity's booted feet kicked out,nailing the man in the gut. He slapped her.She tasted the coppery tasted of blood in her mouth. "You little harpy!!"spat the man. Serenity felt something knock the back of her head.She crumpled to the ground. "What do you men think you're doing??"came a voice. Serenity's eyes fluttered.The last thing she saw before succumbing to darkness were three hooded figures atop their horses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity opened her eyes.She was in a tent!!Trying to sit up,Serenity fell back.She had one major headache.Slowly she reached back to gingerly touch the lump on the back of her forehead.She winced. Peering around the tent,she noticed it was dark outside.Just how long had that knock put her out???? "Oh,you're awake.Good."came a soft voice. Serenity's head twisted to see a young woman with blue hair and blue eyes.She was carrying some bread,cheese,a jug water and a some potted meat. "How long have I been unconcious??"croaked Serenity. "About half the day.The sun is setting."smiled the woman. "Oh."was the only reply Serenity could give. "My name is Ami.What's yours??"asked the woman smiling. "Serenity." "Very pretty.I'm sure you're hungry,so I'll just leave you in peace to eat."smiled Ami. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Well??"snapped a redhead as Ami approached the two figures. "She's awake,and she said her name is Serenity."said Ami. "You see???What's the chance of coming across a silver-haired girl named Serenity and not be the sister to the Queen??"snapped the woman. "Beryl,you don't have to shriek.She might hear you."said Ami with a frown. "Why should I care if that little royal brat hears me or not??She can't be any better than her sister,right Endy??"spat Beryl as she turned her greenish-yellow eyes on the tall dark man beside her.His dark midnight hair was moving with the wind,his ocean eyes staring at the two women. Endymion shrugged. Ami glared at Beryl."As far as we know,the Princess has never done anything to harm the people of this kingdom!It is unfair to judge her. She's never even been outside the palace,so our spies say." "That's because her sister's on the throne and NOT her."snapped Beryl. "Enough with your bickerings."ordered Endymion."I will judge for myself, what the Princess is like." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity looked up from the potted meat as somebody stepped into the tent.Her eyes were locked on the man in front of her.He was probably the most handsome man she'd ever seen.He postively exuded an aura of strength. Serenity frowned.The man had a dominating aura.Was he a rebel???One of the descendents of the 5 families that had turned to the rebellion?? "How are you feeling??"asked the man. "Like my head has been split open like a ripe watermelon."mumbled Serenity.To her fascination,the man grinned. Endymion stared down at the girl whom they'd assumed was the Princess Serenity,sister to Queen Bruche. "You shouldn't touch that bruise,you know,"said Endymion. "Bruise??I'd say this was a ripe turnip on the back of my head."groaned Serenity as she touched her head once more. Endymion smiled.She really was a curious little thing."It doesn't look so bad." Serenity snorted and muttered something that sounded like "Men." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "We have yet to find any news of the Princess.I fear that she is hurt." sighed a woman whose green hair was tied into a ponytail.Her emerald eyes were scanning the grassy meadow. "Relax Makoto.The Princess will be fine.She has been trained her powers has she not??"asked a man with white hair and ice blue eyes. "Of course!!Training in one's powers is a necessity!!"snapped Makoto angrily at her companion. "Right."smiled the man sardonically. "Shut up.I wonder how,Jadeite,Iolite and Rei are coming along??"sighed Makoto. "At least we were spared inspection duty."sighed the man. "Shut up,Malachite." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity stole a peek at the three silent figures before her.They eating meat off a spit,and the redhead with the piercing yellow-green eyes was staring at her with a look that sent chills running up and down her spine. Her eyes shifted to look at Endymion.He was biting a piece of meat,while he prodded at the fire with a stick.The flames of the fire reflected in his ocean blue eyes. At that moment,he looked up.His ocean eyes connected with her sapphire ones.A hot flush rose to her cheeks and she bent her head staring down at the dead leaves nestled on the ground. Endymion smiled slyly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Morning came quicker than Serenity expected.Stretching herself,she placed her hand over her yawning mouth. "Good morning." "Oh!!" Endymion's lips quirked into a smile."Don't fret,my little rabbit.It isn't as if I walked in on you naked,now is it??"grinned Endymion. Serenity glared at him. He only chuckled. "Breakfast is served,my little rabbit."informed Endymion. "Where will you and your companions be going??"asked Serenity. "I beg your pardon??" "Where are you headed??" Endymion stared in confusion.He hadn't actually decided on going anywhere.He'd come out to spy on the palace.But he sure as hell could not tell her that!! "We are unsure yet.Come,let us eat breakfast,sweeting."smiled Endymion as he offered her his hand. ~Outside~ "What is with that dark scowl on your face,Beryl??Are you jealous??" smiled Ami. "What are you talking about!!??I am NOT jealous."snapped Beryl,her face flushing a slight pink."I just don't trust the royal witch." "Now come on...everybody back at camp knows you have a fancy for Endymion.Now you're just jealous Endymion seems to give his undivided attention to Serenity." "What do you mean,EVERYBODY??"questioned Beryl. "Just what I said.But you can't blame Endymion.Serenity is gentle and beautiful.Especially that silver mane of hers."sighed Ami. "A big fat lying facade."spat Beryl. Laughter penetrated Beryl's ears,she swung around to see Endymion smiling and the silver-haired child-woman emerging from the tent,laughter on her face. Beryl's eyes flared up,her insides boiling with anger and hatred.This made her hate the royals even more.If the girl really was the mysterious Princess Serenity of the Silver Kingdom whom the spies in the palace spoke so much about. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As they sat around the dying fire and ate in silence,Serenity stared up. The sky was blue.White puffy clouds were floating in the sky.Everything was so perfect.So peaceful.Right now,no outsider would have suspected the Silver Kingdom to be ruled under a tyrant Queen with a lust for vengeance and in a serious battle between the rebellion.Everthing was just too perfect...it wasn't real. Thundering hooves of horses brought Serenity out of her reverie.The sight brought a lump to her throat.Two of the Royal Guard. "Damn."swore Endymion as he got to his feet and reached for a his sword. Serenity backed as she saw them get closer.She wasn't going back.She WASN'T!! Beryl's lips curled. Makoto and Malachite jerked the reins of their horses to a stop as they stared at the silver-haired girl backing away.Her sapphire eyes flashing with anger.Her eyes conveyed only one thing.She did not want to return to the palace.Their Princess could be stubborn at times. Malachite shifted his gaze to the three others standing before them. A man and two women.His eyes narrowed.*Rebels* "Well well...hello Endymion."mocked Malachite. "Malachite."acknowledged Endymion. Endymion didn't miss the looks the two Guards gave Serenity.Swiftly he shifted his position,standing in front of her. Makoto's emerald eyes flashed with anger and released a burst of energy at Endymion's direction. Endymion jumped back,sweeping Serenity into his arm. "You rebel scum!!Release the Princess Serenity!"ordered Makoto trying to contain her anger. Endymion's face showed no emotion.But inside,was slightly startled.He'd never expected the infamous Princess to be so compassionate and lovely. She really didn't seem like the woman who was related to the Queen or the daughter of the former cruel King and Queen.In short,Serenity was everything her parents and sister were not. "You're really a rebel??"whispered Serenity as she stared up at the man who was holding her. He looked down at her and nodded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everything seemed to happen so fast,Beryl had stepped in and attacked the two Guards.She had shouted for Endymion and Ami to escape.And naturally Endymion mounted his horse with her,and rode away with Ami's horse fast at the heels of his own mount. Serenity stared back as she watched Beryl jump on her own horse and ride away from the two coughing Guards who were trying to see through the dust.Right now...everything seemed so unreal. Makoto coughed as she tried to see through the dust,that rebel scum, Beryl's power had stirred up.Her eyes watered painfully as they came into contact with the ashes from the dead campfire which had also been disturbed when Beryl tore the ground with her power. When the dust settled,Makoto stared in the horizon.The rebels had disappeared along with the Princess.The Queen was NOT going to be happy. "Dammit to hell!!"spat Makoto. "It isn't going to help by cursing,you know."said Malachite dryly. Soon a whole stream of obscenities filled the air pouring from Makoto's mouth.Some of which,Malachite had never even heard of and would have turned the Queen's ears red. "God's breath,woman.Where did you learn such a 'colourful' vocabulary?" asked Malachite with disgust. "Shut up."spat Makoto. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity was blinfolded despite her protests.Endymion held her close as if he feared she would jump off his horse at any second. Finally,the horse stopped.Endymion got off and lifted her down.Undoing the blindfold,Serenity took in the sight before her.She was somewhere deep in the woods,in the heart of the rebellion camp. "You guys are back!!We were getting worried."came a voice. Serenity turned to find a golden blonde with golden eyes headed towards them.Behind her,were two men.One with pale blonde hair and bright wet green eyes.The other man had dark brown hair that fell in curls and dark blue eyes.They eyed her apprehensively. "Endymion-??"prompted the golden haired woman. Endymion looked down at the petite silver-haired child-woman with the enchanting sapphire eyes.She had a look of child-like innocence on her face as she took in her surroundings with awe. "Forgive my dreadful manners."grinned Endymion. The woman rolled her golden eyes."As if you have manners." "This is Minako,Zoycite and Nephrite."smiled Endymion as he introduced the three strangers to Serenity.He watched her reaction.There was none. There was only that child-like confusion. "And who might she be,Endymion??"asked the man named Zoycite.They were frowning at her. Serenity saw the curious smirk of triumph on Beryl's face.Almost all the rebels had stopped whatever work they were doing and turned to stare at the woman their leader had brought back to the camp,as he introduced her to his elite group of rebels.The rebels with power running in their veins. "This,Zoycite...is the Princess Serenity.The Queen's own sister."smiled Endymion slyly as his hand clasped her shoulder. Dead silence ensued. Serenity swallowed painfully.She saw the naked anger and hatred in the eyes of the rebels.They hated the royals.That much was clear. "Endymion...what are you going to do with her??"exclaimed Nephrite in an exasperated tone.Breaking the uncomfortable silence. "I say we should just use her to get at the Queen."snorted Beryl. Some murmurs of agreement were heard. "NO!!"exclaimed Serenity as she tried to wriggle out of Endymion's grasp. "Stop wriggling."growled Endymion. "No!!I won't let you hurt my sister,I won't!!No!!-" "Cease struggling,little rabbit.No one is going to use you to get your sister."grounded out Endymion. At those words,Serenity stopped and stared up at the man who was holding her tightly. "Promise??"whispered Serenity. Endymion stared down at Serenity's sapphire blue orbs.Eyes so trusting and filled with innocence.How could anyone resist?? "Promise,little rabbit."smiled Endymion. Serenity smiled. Beryl frowned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Well minna??I may as well tell you straight.I have gone crazy on a writing spree.*Sigh..is being dragged away to a fanfic mental asylum* Comments minna??I'd really appreciate them.