Prologue Five! This is the start of the outer senshi stories, and since none of
them are connected, the next four will be completely different! Hope you like!
*****************
Time Honored
Prologue Five - Pluto
I yawned. For about the thirteenth time that night. Like I really care about
the nuclear weapon Earth was experimenting with! I stared behind the man I had
been politely talking with, a prince from some planet, wasn’t sure which one,
trying desperately to find an reason to excuse myself. But every time I opened my
mouth, he would fill the gap with inane chatter. I stifled another yawn, telling
myself I would only appreciate it more, when I finally got out of this, when I caught
my mother motioning for me to come towards her. I curtsied, then left the
perplexed man alone. Rolling my eyes, I walked gracefully towards my mother
and younger sister, Cariena. I smiled down at my sibling, then nodded to my
mother. She smiled warmly, holding the time key stiffly in her right hand.
“Setsuna, you don’t seem to be enjoying yourself.” She said. I groaned.
“I’m sorry, but the men here are either boring or totally self-absorbed.” I
added. She laughed slightly.
“What do you expect with princes?” She asked.
“Maybe a gentleman or two....” I trailed.
“Not many of those still exist.” I was thinking of one in particular.... “ Don’t
get your hopes up. They’ll only get dashed.” She said, before strolling off by
herself. I glanced down at my younger sister and grinned.
“She’s been drinking?” I asked slightly. She laughed. Again, I glanced
around, hoping to see him. *What do you really think you’d say to him?* I asked
myself. *You know why he’s here. You know why _you’re_ here. At this stage, is
anything you would say really going to change his mind?* I grimaced. I don’t want
to think about that now. I’ll think about that if and when I see him.
“See anyone you like?” Cariena asked. I blushed, I think.
“No....” I replied.
“No, you don’t see anyone you like, or no you don’t see the one you do
like?” She guessed it. I didn’t see him. I’d never even talked to him, and here I
was, praying I would catch a glimpse of the man I had fallen so hard for. *Please!
He’s the man of the hour tonight! Like you would really be able to say anything....*
My thoughts bit out. I sighed. Wish I could break that news to my heart.
“I’m gonna go find Hotaru. You gonna be all right alone?” Cariena asked. I
smirked. Her big sister act was _not_ going to work.
“Of course. Tell her I said hello.” I added as she trotted off by herself. I
sighed, again, wandering through the gardens of the Moon Palace. Though the
place looked absolutely beautiful, a snear permanently covered my face. The
beauty was just a reminder of the person I had come to hate. Princess Serenity.
Or Serena, as she liked to be known. He was here for one reason. Her. Now the
night he was to formally announce the betrothal of him and the Moon Princess.
Which meant that if I couldn’t get to him before she did, it was a lost cause. Wish
I could break that news to my heart.
“Setsuna, get over him already!” I whispered to myself, too low for anyone
to hear. Or so I thought.
“What’s such a pretty lady like yourself doing talking to herself?” I heard a
deep voice call mockingly behind me. I spun around, in time to catch a slightly
taller man laughing down at me. I stuttered, flustered at my own embarressment.
“I didn’t know anyone was here....” I mumbled.
“I sort of guessed that.” He answered, still smiling.
“What are you doing sneaking up on a helpless woman anyway?” I said,
gaining some of my confidence back. He didn’t back down.
“What’s the fun of making your presence known when you can get a more
honest statement out of someone this way?” He asked. “I bet I never would have
known about the secret crush you have on a certain gentleman had I’ve come
right out directly.”
Again I blushed. Not sure of what to say, I just gulped.
“But hey, you’ve still kept the identity of this lucky man a secret, so don’t
fret.” He smiled before he beginning again, “I won’t tell. At least, not yet.” He
strode away, leaving me utterly mistified. Who did this creep think he was? I
didn’t even know his name, let alone him as a person! What right did he have to
go around handing out threats? I fumed some more as I watched him retreat
without another look back. I folded my arms, eyes burning, when my attention
was caught by a tall figure, talking politely with the King and Queen of Neptune. I
recognized him right off. His broad shoulders, his strong build, his prominent chin.
I sucked in my breath as I watched him brush a lock of hair out of his eyes. Every
bone in my body ached for his touch. For him to hold me, touch me. Kiss me. I
exhaled loudly at the last thought, tingling at the idea. I had talk to him. At least
once.
I picked my dress up, and headed out to look for my mother. I knew that
his father was introducing him to the various Kingdoms of the Galaxy, and I was
just hoping he hadn’t already been to my family. I saw the forest hair of my
mother and headed quickly in that direction. As I approached, I saw him and a
taller figure headed in the same direction. I showed up suddenly at the side of my
mother, startling her. She smiled, shifting the Time Key from hand to hand. One
second later, he was next to me.
“Queen, I would like to introduce my son, Prince Darien of Earth. As his
first time visiting the Moon Kingdom, I thought it only proper to introduce him
around.” The taller figure announced in a deep brouding voice. He bowed, then
stepped aside for his son. Again, my breath was caught when he smiled. So
sweet, so genuine. My mind wandered, and I could almost feel the heat of his
breath on me, his tender lips just inches from mine. I think I moaned.
“This is my eldest daughter, Setsuna.” She said, pushing me forward. He
immediately reached out and took my hand. Brining it delicately up to his face, he
kissed it, sending every fiber in my body into overload. I think I moaned.
“Pleased to meet you.” He said, his voice rolling out of his mouth, sending
shivers down my back. He smiled again, and again, I went back to previous
dream I had experienced. I think I moaned.
“As you know, he is now officially betrothed to Princess Serena. The
wedding is in exactly 18 months. I hope you will join us in this joyous event.” His
father said, bowing, leading Darien off again. He nodded to us, then went on his
way. He didn’t look back. I think my heart broke.
“What a sweet young man. Princess Serenity is certainly lucky.” I heard my
mother say from behind me. Without turning around I replied, “She certainly is.” I
felt a solitary tear fall down my cheek, and onto the moist garden floor. I didn’t
even feel it. Without another word, I left, not turning back to see whether my
mother had noticed. I couldn’t let her see me cry. Not now. She had no idea how I
felt, how I needed him. No one did. I was alone.
*
After a few brief moments in a powder room, I entered to Palace for the
first time. I was immediately hit with the sounds of mingling, eating, and especially
drinking. I grabbed a flute of champainge off of a tray that a waiter had been
carrying around, and walked quietly around the room, taking in everything I saw. I
wanted to get it in now, because I never planned on returning. Not on good terms
at least. I hated her, with every bone in my body, and I wanted to keep it that way.
I hope she chokes on a cracker.
“Princess.” I heard a voice say from behind me. I turned again, expecting
to see the same insufferable moron that had scared me before. Instead, I gazed
into the eyes of such a deep blue, I almost got lost. My mind raced, and I felt
flushed. He was smiling kindly and extending a gloved hand to me. Too flustered
to speak, I took it and walked with him to the floor.
“I was hoping to get to talk to you more.” Darien said smiling as we
swayed.
“Thank you.” I finally got out.
“It’s not often that I find someone my own age. I haven’t had a intelligent
conversation since I arrived! I’ve been so busy with hosting and visiting.” He said,
laughing. I wasn’t listening. All I was aware of was the one hand wrapped tightly
around my waist, and the warmth of his palm wrapped around mine. He smiled
down at me. *I don’t know what I did....* Does this mean....he feels the same
way? Are all my wildest dreams about to come true?
I felt emotions I’ve never had the joy of feeling yet. But what about
Serenity? Is he going to defy the whole Kingdom of Earth? My mind raced,
spewing things I’d never even thought of before. But still through out the whole
time, my body was painfully aware of the one pressed against me. I could feel
every move his muscles made, and it was the most wonderful thing in the world!
To know everything he did, every move he made.
“I’m assuming your engaged yourself?” He asked. I must have looked
puzzled because he tried to clarify.
“You are a lot older than most of the other Princesses. You must have
been arranged.”
“No. I’m aloud to choose whomever I want.” I said, still a little confused.
“I can’t say I ever really agreed with the whole thing.” My heart pounded.
Was...was he about to tell me? Has he felt the same about me the whole time?
“Until tonight.” Oh God. I stared up at him. I was sure my face was like a book,
and he was reading everything I felt. But he was alone, off in his own little world.
“She’s so sweet. Gentle. I’ve never met anyone like her.” He laughed. “I
must sound like a fool. Imagine, falling in love with someone you hardly know.”
Yeah, stupid. He put his hand to his face and shook his head. I couldn’t stand it
anymore. I let my damn imagination away with me. I actually thought....Oh God.
He doesn’t....No. I have no chance. He loves her. Not me. By this time, we had
stopped dancing, for a while I assumed. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t care. My heart had
shattered. I’ve never felt such pain. I wanted so much to cry. To run the other
direction, for him to see how much he had meant to me. But I kept face. I smiled
at him, trying my best to keep my composure. But soon, I knew I was going to
lose it. Soon. It was only a matter of time.
“Serena,” No. “this is Princess Setsuna, from Pluto.” I whirled around,
coming face to face with the short blonde. *No....There’s no telling what I’ll do to
her.* I saw how his face lit up, his eyes crinkled, and his mouth danced as he
smiled. Again, I imagined what it would feel like to have those lips touch mine.
*NO!* My mind screamed.
“Setsuna, this is my fiancee, Serena.” Serena. Had they grown so close so
that he didn’t have to call her by her title? My head spun, and I could see me face
fall at the word. Again, I plastered a smile on my face and turned on my heel and
left. I didn’t look back, but God knows I wanted to. I wanted to whip around and
rip every hair off of her head. As I arrived outside the ballroom, I turned and
watched the happy couple talk. Now, and only now did I let my tears make
themselves known. They fell, wordlessly, to the floor. I hardly noticed. If anyone
saw me, I never knew. Nor did I care. I just crouched by the hedges and watched,
even though I knew it would hurt less if I just turned and ran. But I watched. And
all the while, my face became even more damp with fresh tears as I watched the
tenderness appear on his face when he spoke to her. And the light in her eyes
that illuminated her whole face when he addressed her. I couldn’t take it. I had to
get out. My heart couldn’t take the beating
So I left. But, I turned to get one last look. He was bent over her. His lips
almost on hers.
“No....” I whimpered, even though I wanted to shout. To scream, to let
everyone know how much I hurt. And he kissed her. With his arms around her,
and his mouth over hers, he kissed her. My stomach wretched involuntarily, and I
threw up with everything I had in me. All the anguish I felt, all the lost time,
everything. I cleansed my body of him, but my heart still weighed heavy of this
feeling. I never wanted to see that sight again. But every second I replayed it, and
my body, soul and mind wanted to react in the same way. My head whirled, and
my body quivered, and my stomach ascended to my throat. But my heart. The
feeling of my heart breaking into a million pieces was the worst. All because of
him. All because of a love. Unrequited.
*******
This one was a little more solemn that the last five. I actually think this one is a
tad bit better than the others so far. More emotions. Maybe it’s because I’ve had
more burns than anything else when it comes to love. Little bitter. So I guess I’ll
get all my aggressions out on paper. Or computer. Whatever. Tell me what you
think. - Michelle Merriman
(
geocities.com/tokyo/temple) (
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