How Ever Did We Fall In Love? - Trista and Maverick - By SMA/CMA
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Rated: PG-13 (maybe)

Summary: Trista was deemed the new time guardian after her birth.  Many 
years were spent in isolation because everyone was afraid what would 
come out of her mouth, even her own parents.  Millennia later, Trista 
is still alone.  But events will soon show she wasn't as lonely as 
everyone thought.

AN: Welcome to Trista's story in the HDWFIL series.  As always, this 
is an original piece by me.  I recommend that you read Amy's story 
first, otherwise, you may get lost.  Well, enjoy!
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Chapter One
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*One Month Later*

	Trista pushed her glasses up her nose and concentrated on the 
embroidery she was sewing.  The delicate flower pattern was difficult, 
but she had done patterns that were more so.  The only difficulty was 
the customer had ordered a rush on it and rushing Trista could lead to 
disastrous results.  She cursed when the needle slipped and stuck her 
on the finger.  She sucked the tip, trying to stop the bleeding.  She 
took her left hand and rummaged around the drawer for a Band-Aid and a 
thimble.  She didn't need to stab herself any more today.  She muttered 
to herself, "Where's a damn Band-Aid when you need one?"

	"Top right hand drawer, next to the sewing kits, Tris."  Hotaru 
walked around the table and dropped a few patterns on another table.  
"You had put them there because it would be practical and so you 
wouldn't forget."  Hotaru smiled and walked behind Trista, pausing to 
rub her guardian's shoulders.

	Trista gave a little purr of pleasure at her sore muscles being 
rubbed.  She had bent over the embroidery since eight o'clock that 
morning, and it was now nearly one o'clock.  "What time is lunch 
arriving?"

	"In about half an hour.  Orion volunteered to get it for us."  
Hotaru paused, "Come to think of it, he was downright demanding."

	Trista sighed and swiveled in her chair, "That sounds like him."  
She stretched her hands over her head and stood up.  She walked around 
the little box of a room and stopped, deep in thought.

	"What are you thinking about?"

	Trista sighed again, a little heavier this time.  "Why was I 
the one to catch the bouquet?"

	Hotaru cocked her head to the side and said, "Maybe it's a test."  
Seeing Trista's confused look, Hotaru continued, "Amy was tested, and 
she won her ultimate prize.  Love.  Maybe this is your test."

	"Maybe, but I don't think..."

	Whatever Trista was going to say was cut of by a bell ringing in 
the front.  Since Trista was closest to the door, she left the room to 
go see who was in the main part of the store.  A voice said, "Hello, 
sugar."

	Trista bit back a grimace and went to meet Orion.  Ever since the 
wedding, he had been clinging to her like a bad habit.  To make matters 
worse, it seemed like Orion was fishing for a wedding proposal.  
Something that would never happen as long as Trista was guardian of the 
Time Gate.

	"Hello, Orion.  What brings you to my shop?"  Trista was going to 
be cordial to him, even if it killed her.  However, she was going to 
give him the boot soon, he was driving her nuts with all of the 
attention.  That, and she was dreaming of another man...

	"I thought I'd ask you to dinner.  Maybe later we can talk 
about..."

	"Trista?"

	Trista let an inaudible sigh slip past her lips and asked, "What 
is it, Hotaru?"

	"Serena just called and asked if we could meet her with the 
samples."

	Trista looked at Hotaru and knew that Serena didn't want to look 
at samples or anything else to do with her shop.  "Okay, let's go."  
Turning to Orion, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Maybe we'll 
finish this conversation another time, but for now, Hotaru and I have 
to attend to a client."

	Hotaru came out of the back room holding their coats.  "We better 
get going."

	Trista fished a set of keys out of her pocket and locked the door 
behind them.  Waving goodbye to Orion, her and Hotaru waited until he 
was out of sight before disappearing into an alleyway.

	"Pluto Garnet Power!"

	"Saturn Amethyst Power!"

	Trista held her Time Staff in front of her and swirled in a 
circle.  Ribbons flowed from the staff and attached to where she had a 
maroon skirt, choker, and collar.  Dark green bows appeared on the 
front and back of her fuku and wings sprouted from her back.

	Hotaru held her glaive in front of her.  Ribbons shot out, 
wrapping around her body, leaving a violet skirt, choker, and collar.  
More ribbons shot out to make dark blue bows on the front and back.  A 
light flashed and wings appeared on Hotaru's back.

	Looking at Trista, she asked, ready to go?"

	"Let's."

	They headed straight to the park and saw the girls already 
fighting a youma.  Moon looked up and smiled.  "Good thing you got 
here.  It'll be a few minutes before anyone else can get here."

	Pluto looked at the youma and smiled.  Moon had done a fine job 
of containing the youma on her own.  "We can take it from here, just 
keep an eye out for Mercury and her king."

	Moon saluted Pluto and said, "Yes, ma'am!"

	Saturn edged close to the monster and said, "Silence Wall!"

	"Good job, Saturn.  Pluto, hold it steady while I scan it," 
Mercury said as Tuxedo Neptune appeared behind her.

	"I'll help.  Water Rose!"

	Somewhere in the trees they heard, "Silence Rose!"

	Pluto raised her head toward the trees and felt her breath catch 
at the sight of another man in a tuxedo.  It was a deep shade of violet 
and she could just barely see dark violet hair.

	Neptune hollered up into the trees, "Saturn, get down here!"

	The man jumped down and bowed to all of them.  "Neptune sensed 
you would need help, so here I am."

	"You're going to need more help than that to defeat us."

	The assembled scouts looked at the voice and snickered.  The man 
was dressed in a neon green outfit so bright it almost hurt to look at 
him.  Moon glared at her comrades and asked, "Who would you be then?"

	The man gave a mocking bow and answered, "I am Lord Ruin, part of 
the Negadestiny clan.  However, this is pointless.  Gordencia, attack!"

	The monster broke free of its bonds and charged straight at 
Trista.  Right before it could run her through, something barreled into 
her side.  Looking up at her rescuer, Trista wished she could see his 
eyes.  Around her, she could hear the sounds of battle, but at this 
moment, she felt more at home than she ever had before.

	"Silence Wall!"

	"Mercury, use your power!"

	"Royal Jewel Ice!"

	He was staring back at her.  In a moment of impulse, he leaned 
down and met with eager lips.  It felt as if a lifetime of information 
had passed in a simple meeting of the lips, but its importance was 
missed.

	He pushed himself off her and disappeared into the trees.  Pluto 
propped herself up on her elbows and sighed.  Murmuring to herself, she 
said, "Tests.  Life's full of 'em."

	"Need help?"

	Trista looked up and saw Hotaru leaning over her, smiling.  "No, 
I'm okay."  Closing her eyes, she willed her transformation to 
disappear.  She opened her eyes and breathed in the scent that reminded 
her of the start of spring.  A gust of wind blew through her green 
hair, signaling that spring was on its way.  Getting up, she brushed 
off the snow and started walking back to her store.  Turning to Hotaru, 
she said, "I’ll be home late tonight, I have to go watch the gate."

	Hotaru started to say something, but it was lost as Trista fell 
on the sidewalk.  She attempted to stand up, but there was a body lying 
across her legs.  Looking down, Trista found herself lost in light 
purple eyes.

	"I’m so sorry; I didn’t see where I was going."  The man lifted 
himself up and reached for Trista’s hand.  Pulling her from the ground, 
he said, "I’m Maverick."

	"I’m Trista.  I run Planetary Fashions."  Normally she didn’t 
spout information to strangers, but he seemed so...open.

	"Allow me to get you a cup of coffee.  It’s the least I can do 
for knocking you over."

	Trista smiled at him and said, "Sure."  Turning to Hotaru, she 
asked, "Can you finish up without me?"

	Hotaru smiled.  Her guardian was acting like a teenager.  "Go 
ahead.  We’re only open for a few more hours.  Have fun."  She watched 
as Trista grabbed Maverick’s hand and directed him to 'the best 
coffeehouse on this side of Tokyo.'  Hotaru walked down the street and 
thought of her own problems.  They were all going to begin having tests 
soon.

*Negadestiny’s Ship*

	Ruin paced the hall, recalling what he had just seen.  She wasn’t 
supposed to be going with him; she was supposed to be with Orion!  He 
walked past a mirror and smashed his reflection.  The time would be 
coming soon when he would be placing everything in Fate’s hands, but 
until then, he’d have to move things along.  Smiling a feral grin, he 
rubbed his hands together and said under his breath, "Wait for me, 
Trista.  Wait."

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