by Sailor Lily
posted December 2000
<Nebula absolutely has to teach us science, since it’s the basis of our universe. I can also understand why Artemis insist in teaching us mathematics, since it is needed for science. But why should we learn to fight? We are not soldiers, all the galaxies are peaceful and there is no use in learning to combat an enemy.> thought Setsuna.
Every day when she had free time, she went in to the library to study. Endymion would usually be there, so they would often talk, study, and help each other. On a particular day after studying, they decided to browse over the books and found them very peculiar.
“Setsuna, who’s William Shakespeare?”
“I have no idea. Who’s Mark...Twain?
“I don’t know, I’m beginning to think that we don’t read enough.”-said Endymion still looking at the books of so many unknown authors.
“No, it’s not that,”-answered Artemis from next to a bookshelf behind Setsuna. “its simply that these people don’t exist yet.”
“Wait, that means that... these books... haven’t been written.”
“You’re right, Endymion.”
“But why are these books... here, if they don’t...exist?-Setsuna asked Artemis looking wide-eyed at the book she was holding.
“I really don’t know. If you’re interested you may read them.”-he answered before leaving the library.
Endymion and Setsuna continued to browse over the books in silence for some time. " 'How do I love thee, let me count the ways.’”-read Endymion from the book he was holding. Setsuna turned to look at him as he finished saying that. He looked at her questioning silence, and walked over to where she was. “Do you know why I love you?”-he asked searching into her eyes.
She didn’t know what to say and simply looked at him puzzled. He simply continued talking, “I love you for your kindness, for your intelligence since we both like physics. i love you for your beaut, but further more, I love you for everything you are.” As he came close to kiss her, the door knob was heard, and Beryl came in to find them rather close.
“I’ll see you after dinner then,”-he said quickly handing her the book he was holding. “hope you like the book.”
“Thank you, if I enjoy it I’ll let you know.”-she answered coolly. He walked to the door and walked out. Beryl simply stood by the door watching as Setsuna looked down at the book.
“He doesn’t love you, you know?”
“Excuse me?-asked Setsuna surprised.
“Prince Endymion is not in love with you. That’s what I said.”
“Really? How would you know?”-replied Setsuna letting her anger show while thinking. <Why do I care? Why does it bother me?>
“It’s obvious he’s just charmed by your beauty.”-answered Beryl approaching her and touching her silky black-green hair. “If you didn’t have beauty, you’d be as ordinary as the other girls.”
“The other girls are not ordinary, their gorgeous!”-she replied pushing the woman's hand away from her hair, and walking offended towards the door. “We will see if I’m ordinary. We’ll see about that.”
**************************************************
“Setsuna, it’s time to go to the dining hall.”-called Haruka impatiently awaiting for her with the others. “Are you coming?”
“Yes, go on ahead without me. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
“All right, we’ll see you there.”
The whole group thought it was weird that she wasn’t going with them, but walked to the dinning room without any comments about it. They sat around the table very involved in their individual conversations. Nobody noticed when Setsuna walked into the room, until Queen Serenity looked up to see who was coming in late.
“Setsuna! What happened to your hair?”-replied the Queen shocked by the girls sudden change, but thought to herself, <She still looks lovely in spite her radical change, maybe even more than before. Her beautiful facial features are accentuated by the short hair.>
Every pair of eyes around the table turned to follow Setsuna as she moved to the empty seat next to Hotaru. Nebula broke the silence in the room “That was an... unexpected...change.”
“Yes, I know but I really wanted something different. I wanted to look different, maybe a little plain.”
“You will never be plain,”-said Mina with a big smile to the oldest girl. “you are simply too gorgeous. Even if you shaved your head and had a scar on your face, you'd still be beautiful..”
“You are simply too sweet, Mina.”-answered Setsuna ashamed of herself.
“Mina’s right, you are gorgeous girl,” -began the Queen at the head of the table. “and it all comes from inside.” Setsuna cheeks redden with shame for being so stupid, insecure and letting Beryl make her feel that way.
After dinner, she was the last to finish. The others went to the garden and would wait for her there. Outside the dinning hall Beryl was hiding, waiting for her.
“Well Setsuna, we meet again.”-she said with a steady eye on Setsuna as she turned in the direction to the garden. “I have to say, you did quite a number on yourself. Your beauty is gone.”
“You’re wrong. You see, someone as... shallow... as you can only see outside. I’m still the same because it doesn’t matter what I do externally. What matters...is inside, and not even you can take that from me.” she held Beryl’s blazing gaze for a minute, and then walked away from her.
Of course, Beryl was angry Setsuna was stronger than she had ever thought. She grasped for anything to make the girl with shoulder-length green hair mad, and finally found it. She limited herself to say loud enough for Setsuna to hear, “You still haven’t proved me wrong. You still haven’t proven that Endymion loves you.”
Setsuna heard her. She became so infuriated that she went to her room, and slammed the door as hard as her light brown arms could manage. She wasn’t necessarily furious at Beryl, but at herself. <How come I’m being so foolish? So, what if Endymion does not love me, he’s just an old friend. He just likes to tease me by saying he loves me. No big deal!!> She walked to one of the windows in her room. There was the grandiose garden outside, and she was able to spot the prince surrounded by four young girls. They were all laughing, and she took that as flirting from his part. <Beryl’s right.>
She needed so badly to make herself stop her thoughts and doubts. She had never had these feelings to be accepted before, it was so new to her that she didn’t know how to handle it. She left her room and ran to the library feeling she would find comfort there. Once there, she was surprise to find Nebula reading a small red book. She looked up to see Setsuna’s face all red.
“Am I disturbing you, Nebula?
“No, you don’t disturb me, come in. Is something bothering you?”
“Well,...I need to talk to someone.”
“I have plenty of time to listen, come sit by me.”
“Okay. First...can you keep everything we talk about between us?”
“Yes, I will keep the secret and never tell anyone without your permission. Now, what is it that’s bothering you?”
“The real reason why I cut my hair,...was because... I wanted to show Beryl that even with no beauty, I’m not ordinary.”
<So it was Beryl who provoked her to make this change. But why? What’s her purpose?> thought Nebula feeling uneasy about that woman. “What exactly did she say to you?”-she said searching Setsuna's face with her bright green eyes.
“She said that Prince Endymion wouldn’t love me if I had no beauty. That I would be ordinary, I got mad and told her we would see about that.”
“Setsuna, if there is something that I have learned during my life, is never to listen to evil council. You have plenty to learn, since you are still so very young. A day will come when you may always trust your instincts, when you can always turn to yourself for a decision.”
“Yes, I know you’re right. I really acted on first impulse today, I was so angry.”-acknowledged Setsuna while thinking shamefully about half of her hair laying on the bathroom floor. “But, I’m not even sure why I was so mad. Is it because I’m vain? Or is it because she thinks that people only like me because they think me pretty?”
“I don’t think you have to worry about either one. You are not vain, and with time you will know the people that truly love you, and the ones who don’t.”
Setsuna looked at Nebula's green eyes and found they were awfully familiar, but couldn't quite remember where she had seen a pair of eyes like those.They smiled at each other with perfect sincerity. That was the first step to fulfill Liba’s wish. The door knob was heard, and Endymion emerged from behind the white door. Nebula smiled up at him, knowing that his intuition had brought him to Setsuna. It was surely a good omen. She invited him in and told Setsuna she would talk to her later. Nebula walked out of the room and went in search of Beryl.
“Beryl, I must talk to you.”-said Nebula once she saw her.
“Yes, Nebula, what is it?"-answered Beryl trying to hide her exasperation.
“I want you to stay away from Setsuna, you have no business tormenting her. She is under my care, and you have no business being around her.”
“Okay, I will do as you wish,...unless... the Queen asks me to deliver a message. Will that be okay?”
“Yes, if it is an order from the Queen then it will be fine.” Nebula turned and left Beryl standing, looking thoughtfully after her thinking. <I must get rid of her if I want to continue with my plans. The Queen will help me, I know she will.>
****************************************************
“I’m so tiered Luna!”-said Princess Serenity throwing herself on the grass. “Can’t we stop for a while and get something to eat?”
“That shouldn’t strike us weird coming from you Serenity,”-replied Rei scornfully. “all you ever think about is food, and no work.”
The two girls got into an argument, as usual. <This shouldn’t be weird any more, they fight and argue every chance they get.> thought Setsuna smiling thoughtfully.
Ami said in all seriousness, “Can’t you two ever stop arguing?”
Mina backed Ami up, “Yeah, you argue from the time you wake up, to the time you go to bed.”
Lita declared laughing, “Yeah, and you two share a room, which means you argue all the time.”
Rei and Serenity looked at the others, and replied angrily pointing at each other. “Well, she started it!”
Luna finally stopped the arguments by saying, “Okay, that’s enough for today.”
An with those magic words peace came back to the garden as all the girls scattered about the palace’s surroundings. Setsuna staid at the same place to continue practicing attacks with a long pole. She would spin it over her head without getting her hair caught, and do difficult jumps with it.
“Whoa there!”-declared Endymion watching her practice intensely. “You’re going to hurt someone with that thing, you’re getting really good at it.”
Setsuna smiled sadly, and leaned the long pole against the wall of the palace. He went up to her, took her hand and led her to the pond. They sat there together saying nothing, and he realized that there was something troubling her.
“Setsuna, are you okay? You look worried.” She didn’t answer anything, but because of his kindness, tears began to roll down her cheeks. He said nothing, put his arm around her shoulders, and gently pulled her towards him. She leaned her head heavily on his shoulder, and continued to cry silently.
< I don’t like this!> -thought Beryl angrily looking out a window and seeing Endymion like that with Setsuna.< I must talk to the Queen about it.>
“I’m sorry, Prince Endymion, I got your shoulder wet.”-said Setsuna moving her head away from his shoulder, and whipping it with her palm.
“Don’t worry about it, it will dry.”-he answered wiping the tears that were unusual on such a wonderful face. “Why are you troubled?”
“I had a dream...that....that my parents died. That we were on a ship moving away from the outer planets....and suddenly...I realized what was happening...and all of the people from the outer planets...died, but I don’t remember what happened to me, or why I couldn’t stop it from happening.”
He saw the terror that clouded her eyes. He pulled her closer, kissed her forehead, and tried to give her reassurance. “It was only a dream, don’t worry, nothing will happen to anybody. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you,... this is the second time you have...cared for me.”
“Don’t worry, I will always be near to care for you.”