Hosted by www.Geocities.ws Legal Crap... All rights go to Naoko Takeuchi, and everyone else affiliated with any form of the anime cartoon, Sailor Moon. You shouldn't need anything explained, so on with the show... CHAPTER 8: THE PALACE OF SORROW AND REGRET... ********************************************************** The dizzy feeling wore off, and Serena found herself inside of a white-marbled tower. She was no longer Serenity, and Terra was no longer a princess. She wondered about the white-haired fellow that Terra had seemed so in love with... _________________________________________________________ Serenity drifted back, through time immemorial, to a night just a short while before her emgagement to prince Darien in the Silver Millenium... She sat within her tower, happy, and unaware the silver haired warrior brushing her golden mane was her long lost sister, Terra. "You know Serena, I've always envied you. You have had everything you've ever wanted. Loving parents, true friends, a lover. Now, I know what that feels like. Alex is soo sweet. And he loves me, just as your prince loves you." Glancing at the warrioress through the miiror, Serena laughs contentedly. "I'll not argue with you over that. I've never been happier, and probably never will. But, you sound sad when you talk about Alexander. Is something wrong between you?" Sighing sadly, the nameless woman replied. "No, everything's not alright between myself and Alex. He talks the talk of the mad. He whispers things that don't make sense, and raves about something or other constantly when we're home. I'm afraid he is going mad, a madness, I may not be able to cure." Patting the hand that was gemtly stroking her hair with the silver brush consolingly, Serena contented herself with a kind look of dis belief. "You're too happy for that. Don't force him away from you over non-existant phantoms." _______________________________________________ As the sheen slid slowly from Serena's eyes she looked around again. "Alexander? If you can hear me, stop this, at once! We wish you no harm! If you'll only come back with us, you'll see! Things have changed!" The only answer was a strong wind blowing form no where all around them. Looking around at all of her companions, she nodded at Hohtaruu, asking her forward as they continued to walk past old finery and dusty halls. "Hohtaruu, my dear little sister, tell me what you know of this man and his unusual power. I would ask Terra, for she knew him better, but her story would be marred, because she would've seen it through the eyes of one who had loved and lost him." Nodding, Hohtaruu began. "In the time before, there were four warriors of the Silver Millenium. They each had an element, and guarded a tower set in a cardinal direction. Alexander was the guardian of the watch tower of the north, with the power of wind and intuition. Terra was guardian of the watch tower of the south, with the power of water and understanding. I was gurdian of the watch tower of the east, with the power of fire and determination, my lover, Quinn, was guardian of the watch tower of the west, guardian of mother and earth." As she paused for a breath, Serena's eyes glazed over and everyone paused as she remembered more events long-dead. _________________________________________________________ The time of her engagement ball drifted back, as Serena sat and watched her guests yet agian... She was watching the capers of a young silver- and white-haired couple as they drifted acorss the floor in sweeping, graceful circles when she noticed another pair. The woman was not quite as tall as her the silver haired woman and white haired amn she was here with, but she stood out in her own respects. She had black hair, cut short at mid-earlobe. She wore a sheer, black satin gown, with a low cut neck, and sleeves that started at the her shoulder joint and connected to silver rings on her middle fingers. Her black eyes were cast shyly in the directon of her dancing partner, a slender, lean man of similar height. He had brown hair, cut also at mid-ear, with strange, red streaks at different intervals. His eyes, were a startling, bold, light green, that caught the attention of any who dared glance. Finished finally with her sweep of the room, Serena turned to the black haired young man sitting beside her. Grabbing his sleeve to get his attention, she locked her gaze with his as she gently pulled him out on the dance floor... ______________________________________________________ When her eyes cleared, she simply continued on her way, Hohtaruu going to the back of the line. And they walked alone and in silence for a while longer... Alexander galnced up sharply from his scrying pool, a wicked look in his eyes. So, the princess wanted to negotiate, eh? Well, he'd talk alright, but to her alone. Rubbing his perfectly formed hands together in preparation, he called up the north wind to do his bidding. He sent it to slip silently through his tower, to blow away the solidified air that covered the traps in parts of his incomplete floor... Soundlessly, one by one, somehow, her sister scouts had disappeared. Without warning, Serena found herself all alone in the carpeted, marble halls. She was wondering just what to do when she began to back up, and suddenly backed herself right into a portal that hadn't been there moments ago... Just after the dizziness wore off, but before she regained her sight, Serena heard a chillingly familiar voice say in soft, beautiful tenor tones, "Well, well, princess, we meet again..." **************************************************** Hope you liked it. Questions, comments, flames, suggestions, complaints? E-mail me at [email protected].