Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Stolen Innocence ❯ Stolen Innocence ( One-Shot )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Kihin Ranno 
Beryl wasn't always such a bad person... She was once quite different from how the senshi percieved her... Or did she not change at all?
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 01.27.2002 | Pages: 12 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 622 | Status: Completed
Beryl wasn't always such a bad person... She was once quite different from how the senshi percieved her... Or did she not change at all?
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 01.27.2002 | Pages: 12 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 622 | Status: Completed
Stolen Innocence
1/1
by Kihin Ranno
silver_siren2@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/kihin_rann o/starlithorizon.html
PG-13
~~Date Started: December 14, 2001~~
~~Date Completed: January 27, 2002~~
Hey minna! I'm glad to see you haven't completely given up on me
writing something... ^^; I know it has been awhile. I was under a
little bit of overload, but now I'm better and ready to get back to
my old way of writing.
Anyway, this is a fic whose concept I have not seen before. It's a
Beryl fic, very original... ^_^ I love originality.
I admit, I have always been greatly intrigued with the concept of
Beryl... Naoko's weakness was developing villains, and I was always a
little saddened that Naoko never tried to delve deeper into Beryl prior
to her being corrupted by Metallia. I was disappointed the anime
didn't try it either... And I am disappointed no one in the fan fic
world has tackled this (at least not an entire fic dedicated to the
subject as far as I know). I have seen very few fics actually centered
around Beryl, and all of those usually occur during her reign of
terror. So, I'm doing it. ^_^ I'm also taking the liberty of
answering some unanswered questions...
Anywho, Sailor Moon is not mine. I have many many many many many MANY
voices in my head telling my otherwise, but I do manage to retain
remnants of my non existent sanity. This fiction is mine and always
will be mine. So do not take it! And do not take any characters you
have not heard of in the normal SM universe!
One last thing... I'd like to dedicate this fic to an old friend of
mine who will most likely never read it, but such is life... We were
best friends years ago, and we drifted apart. We survived the constant
arguments of our youth, rumors, tears, betrayals, and stupidity... In
the end we ended up succumbing to the culprit of time. It was a bitch,
but now its over I suppose... Just something I had to say so that you
know I haven't forgotten you, and a word of advice to others... Never
get too proud thinking you and your friends, family, and lovers can
survive everything when you have... because no matter what, time
always wins.
Now, on with the show...
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~*
A young woman, no older than sixteen peeked out from around the stone
corner, her rouge eyes darting around frightfully. The wind blew her
long, cherry colored hair about wildly. Her nails were painted an
equally rosy color, all though they were severely damaged having been
placed in her mouth and chewed upon at least ten times in the last two
minutes. She brought her fingers to her mouth to commence chewing on
them again, when she looked down and noticed how utterly hideous they
were. Her fair face curled up into a look of disgust and she opted to
chew on her lip instead. She looked around again and again, waiting
for the coast to become clear. It took a good twenty minutes and
during that time, she managed to wear off the top layer of dead skin
on her lower lip so that that new layer, which had not been exposed to
the outside, ached slightly.
Finally, all the people who had been in the street disappeared and
there was no one else in sight. The young woman sighed and hurriedly
beckoned to another figure standing behind her. "I cannot believe you
talked me into this Beryl... I swear if mother ever finds out we were
here--"
"Oh come off it Coral!" Beryl bubbled, her tone laced with a slight
hint of exasperation. She ran a hand through her ridiculously long,
ebony locks and looked around, "Come on, no one is around now. Let's
go!" Beryl grabbed Coral's hand and quite literally dragged her across
the street at a break neck pace. The latter woman protested quietly,
but didn't put up enough of a fight to actually get away from Beryl.
When they made it across the dusty street, they were standing right by
a grey stone wall, which was a good two feet taller than the both of
them put together. Coral groaned and said, "Got any bright ideas for
this obstacle, Beryl?"
Beryl giggled and winked, "You dear sister, are far too pessimistic for
your own good. There are many ways to travel from one place to
another..."
Coral paled and said, "Oh Beryl, please don't--"
"Humadai, lumudai... Manarai, anashai... Trebolii, hemoshi...
Ganaraka, makashii!"
A few moments later, there was a flash of deep indigo light, and the
two sisters had disappeared. They soon reappeared on the other side
of the wall. Beryl was smiling brightly, while Coral was fuming...
and it was hardly silent, "Beryl, I cannot believe you did that! You
aren't supposed to use magic unless it is an extreme emergency, and
you are certainly not permitted to use out it in the open like that!
Oh, if mother ever hears--"
Beryl groaned and whined, "Oh come on, Coral... Live a little! All I
want to do is see Prince Endymion up close for once, and I know you
want to as well... Now please, shut your trap and come on!" Beryl
grabbed Coral's hand again and dragged her through the palace's lush
and well kempt gardens, making sure to watch out for any guards on
duty. Coral stopped her moaning and kept silent, not wanting to be
caught on the palace grounds.
After thirty minutes of searching Coral sighed and said, "We should
have found Prince Endymion by now... Perhaps we should just take our
leave,"
Beryl shook her head, "Absolutely not! I will not leave this place
until I figure out what color his eyes are!"
Coral sighed and said, "You're so stubborn... Not to mention, you're
head is always in the clouds. Who cares what color his eyes are, and
who cares how handsome and brave he is! You'll never have him, you
and I both know that..."
Beryl growled and snapped, "At least I have faith in something other
than mother... That's all you care about, and that's all you'll ever
be. Mother's servant," then Beryl dropped Coral's hand and ran off.
"Beryl! Oh curses..." Coral said, stamping her foot angrily, "Fine
then! Get caught and rot in King Endymion's dungeons for all I care!
I am leaving!!" then Coral repeated the incantation Beryl had recited
earlier and vanished in a flash of crimson.
Beryl ran for about five minutes, putting as much distance between
herself and her sister as possible, unaware that she had been
deserted. She didn't shed a tear, but threw a tantrum in the silence
of her mind, 'How dare that little wench insult me like that! Why in
heaven's name do I take her anywhere? She may be my twin but we are
as different as twilight and sunrise... Why does she always have to be
so cruel?!'
Beryl stopped and ran up behind a gazebo, her body shaking from the
effort it took her not to cry. Beryl had not cried since she was a
little girl, no older than three. Her sister Coral was three also,
seeing as the two were twins. Even so, Beryl had been born a full
13 minutes earlier than her sister, and was therefore older.
Beryl sighed as she recalled the last day she had allowed her tears
to flow...
It had been 13 years before, just before King Endymion had come to
power. The king had perished, leaving no heir, and nothing but utter
chaos ensued. The old king (whose name was forgotten by her and she
dared not to inquire about it) had had a ruthless chamberlain, who was
said to have slain the king and queen in their sleep, but it was never
proven. In any event, the chamberlain took over the throne. And then
the year of hell had begun...
The new "king" absolutely despised anyone with magical abilities. Or
at the very least he feared them, scared that they would gather
together and overpower him. He need not have feared so, unless of
course he had been tyrannous in other ways. But the point is, he did
fear them and thus deemed it necessary to wipe them all out.
He hunted them down, slaying them in the worst ways imaginable. He
and his associates were permanently stained with blood, their flesh
literally pinker than any normal human being. It was a blessing for
all who held magic, for they knew who to trust. But the first wave...
The first terrifying massacre that had occurred, had not been lucky
enough. They had not known they were to die until seconds before their
hearts stopped beating and their lungs ceased functioning.
Toward the end of the reign of terror, the chamberlain had come after
her family. They were descended of an incredibly powerful line of
sorcerers and witches and of all of the magic holders, they were the
ones that the overlord feared the most.
And still they had been one of the last targets.
Her family had hid themselves as well as they could, but they had
needed not be. For one reason or another, the king had not even
bothered to come after them until the end of that year. It had always
confused Beryl a great deal and she had spent many a sleepless night
pondering over the subject, but all of her scrutiny had yielded
nothing.
Along with trying to figure out just why this evil twisted character
had enjoyed toying with them so, she had also been given the
opportunity to go over that horrific day over and over again. She had
not allowed herself to forget one minute about those terrifying
hours...
There had been a knock at the door, the sound of it reverberating on
the stone walls. It had been loud, forceful, and very deliberate. As
if whoever was knocking knew exactly what to expect when and if the
door was opened to him. That knock at the door carried the strongest
sense of foreboding Beryl had ever felt, and she wanted to do nothing
but grab her father and run away. She had not known why she didn't
want to take the others with her until later.
They had all been frightened beyond belief, seeing as they had just
moved again, their belongings not even placed accordingly. Coral had
immediately gone to hide behind her mother's skirts, whimpering and
crying all the way. Their father had immediately become tense,
reaching under his cloak and putting a hand on the dagger Beryl knew to
be there. Beryl had done her best to look brave, but she knew it was
futile.
Her father had instructed them all to run and hide somewhere where they
could not be found. He told them that no matter what they heard or
saw, they could not move or make a sound. Coral and her mother had
quickly complied, but Beryl had not wanted to leave her father alone.
The knock came again, louder, and accompanied by and angry call for the
door to opened immediately or they would break it down.
Beryl's father had grabbed her, shoving her behind a stack of boxes and
an assortment of clothes, tablecloths, and books. Beryl had tried to
protest, but he had insisted she stay there. So she reluctantly
held her place and kept silent as her father opened the door...
He never had a chance...
"Excuse me miss?"
Beryl gasped in surprise at her thoughts and memories being interrupted
so abruptly. Her eyes flew open, a ready made apology resting on her
tongue just waiting to be said. But the words would not come as her
eyes locked with a pair of stormy cobalt orbs, the hue's pigmentation
being like none she could even begin to have fathomed before she saw
it then. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart stopped
palpitating as she set eyes on the one she had been searching for.
Prince Endymion smiled slightly and said, "Miss... You do realize that
you aren't permitted to be in here, correct?"
Beryl felt her pale cheeks stain pink and ducked her head down slightly
to prevent him from seeing it. She cleared her throat and said, "Well
I... umm... I mean... You see... Your highness, I--"
Endymion chuckled as she fumbled about for some way to duck out of her
predicament and smiled wider, "Then you are aware... To be honest, I
don't see you as a threat, but my guardians are slightly psychopathic
about my safety and whatnot. I honestly don't mind who comes or goes,
as long as they don't try to kill me,"
Beryl's face flushed a deeper shade of crimson as she forced out, "I
can't imagine anyone who would want to do that your highness..."
'Oh my God, I cannot believe I just said that! What's wrong with me?!
Oh my God...' Beryl thought frantically.
Endymion smiled again and said, "That's very kind of you miss...?"
"Beryl your majesty," Beryl responded meekly as she shifted nervously
from foot to foot.
Endymion sighed and said, "How I loathe those titles... I'm really not
different from anyone else. I was just born lucky,"
Beryl flushed even more and said, "Forgive me your hi--" Beryl clamped
a hand over her mouth and silently cursed herself for being such a
complete moron.
Endymion laughed and shook his head, "Ah well... If people want to
call me that I suppose I'll just let it slide. I just wish my
guardians would loosen up once in awhile... Heck, I wish they'd let
me out of this castle. I haven't seen the outside world since we took
over,"
Beryl flinched at the mention of that as she considered her words
carefully, her ecstatic thoughts running wild in her head, 'This is too
perfect... I can't believe this kind of thing is just falling into my
lap like this! It would be so simple... If I can get the words out,
which may prove difficult... Oh for heaven's sake girl, get a backbone
and say something!'
"I could... sneak you out... if you really wanted to see the outside.
I got in here after all..." Beryl said smiling shyly.
Endymion blanched at her sudden show of forwardness, making Beryl want
to recite the teleportation incantation immediately and pray to God
that no one ever heard about this. Then the prince thought about it
for awhile and shook his head, "I can't believe it... That's probably
the nicest thing anyone has ever offered to do... Not to mention the
most dangerous... I can't believe I'm doing this but... Yes. I'll
go,"
It took all of the restraint in Beryl's body not to jump for joy. She
knew she was beaming, and very near to the point of being down right
giddy. Beryl just continued smiling and said, "All right... I'll be
back tomorrow. I've been here to long as it is. Until tomorrow..."
then Beryl turned and ran before any more words could be exchanged.
******************************************************* ****************
The next day, Beryl slipped, unnoticed, into the palace (this time
deeming it appropriate to leave Coral at home) and snuck Endymion out
of the palace where he could at last be free from his duties and from
protocol. He had had the foresight to wear less than regal clothing,
lest he be caught and get both him and Beryl in danger. Beryl had
immediately felt much more comfortable with him when he wasn't dressed
in his royal armor... Now he seemed almost normal.
Once they had made it over the wall by way of physical force over
magic since Beryl could not reveal her powers to anyone, even the
son of the man who had liberated them, Endymion just gawked for awhile.
Beryl raised an eyebrow and awaited him to become animated again. When
a fairly good amount of time had passed she waved a hand in front of
his face and called, "Hello... Endymion... Wake up..."
Endymion blinked and looked at her in surprise. He turned a light
shade of red and said, "I'm sorry... It's just... I've never seen
anything like it before..." he breathed, sounding amazed.
Beryl looked at him with surprise and looked around at her
surroundings... A gray dismal wall encased the castle, obstructing the
entire thing from view. She knew its beauty, but few else had ever
seen the castle. And if they had, it had most likely been as they were
beings dragged off to the dungeon. The roads were dirt, gray and
dismal looking. The houses around them were stone as well, and very
modest compared to anything Prince Endymion had ever seen. She
couldn't understand why he was so excited about seeing such blaze and
asinine things.
"Endymion... you should be glad. I'd give my right arm to have never
seen any of this. Granted it is much better than before your family
came to power, but its still not much to look at," Beryl said
cautiously, not wanting to offend him, "Why are you so happy to
something so bleak?"
Endymion shook his head, "You wouldn't understand Beryl... Just trust
me when I say that power and wealth are far bleaker than this at
times,"
Beryl stared at him in disbelief and shook her head, "Whatever you
say Endymion... Well, this isn't all there is, now come on!" Beryl
grabbed his hand and ran down the street, pulling Endymion along
behind her.
For the next few hours, Beryl showed him all around the city and
the things around it. From the bustling marketplace where she taught
him how to steal food without getting caught, to the fountains where
picking pockets became a way of life. At first Endymion had been
appalled at her behavior, but then she explained that she really had
no other way of getting money... Also, she never stole from the poor,
only form those who could afford to lose a couple of silver coins.
After she had nearly gotten caught, she decided it would be best if
she showed him the forest surrounding the capitol.
"So, that's how people on the outside survive?" Endymion asked in
disbelief, "I never realized..."
Beryl shrugged and said, "Hey don't feel bad about it. I know I
shouldn't be stealing, but that's really all I can do... Just please
don't lecture me about it. I'd hate to start confusing you with
Coral,"
"Who's Coral?" Endymion inquired.
Beryl rolled her eyes and groaned, "My brat of a twin sister... She is
the most annoying, selfish, stuck up, snotty little twit to have ever
been placed on this earth. Not to mention, she worships the ground
my mother walks on... And my mother isn't all that great. She is
constantly lecturing me about every single thing I do... I don't enjoy
being belittled by the little wench..."
Endymion laughed and said, "Sounds nice to me... I'd love to have a
sibling... Preferably an older one to be honest,"
Beryl shook her head, "Trust me. Siblings are not a blessing..."
"What about the rest of your family?"
Beryl shook her head and said, "There's no one else. Just me, Coral,
and my mother,"
"What about your father?"
Beryl stopped in her tracks, her mood changing in the blink of an eye.
She clenched her fists and looked away from the disguised prince of
Earth, not wanting him to see her anger and anguish about the whole
situation, 'Why did you have to bring him up? Why couldn't you have
just left it alone...?'
Endymion knew by her body language what had happened to her father
and felt like smacking himself, "I... I'm sorry Beryl... I wasn't
thinking..."
Beryl nodded and voiced her acceptance in total deadpan, "Of course...
Don't worry... Its all right..."
Endymion sighed and said, "Its getting late... I should probably be
heading back to palace... Kunzite's going to kill me for being out all
day," Endymion turned and walked past her, expecting her not to say
anything more and never hear from her again.
"I'll see you tomorrow Endymion," Beryl called out after him, her
voice a little less pained. Beryl smiled slightly at his surprise
and said, "What? You're not to blame for ignorance,"
Endymion smiled, feeling relieved that she was all right and nodded,
"See you tomorrow!" then he dashed off towards the palace.
Beryl sighed as he went, a sudden breeze blowing her hair about
wildly, "And I cannot hold a grudge against you..."
********************************************************** ************
Beryl continued to come back to the palace almost every day, weather
and time permitting. Endymion thoroughly enjoyed their outings, happy
that at least one person wasn't so formal with him all the time. It
had been months since it began, and still no one had recognized the
prince for who he was... And she was pleased that Coral had not yet
realized what was going on. Her older sister grilled her every night
as to what she did by day, but so far, her rendezvous with Endymion had
been kept secret.
Towards the end of one of those outings, when the sun was setting in
the west, creating a gorgeous display of colors in the sky, and the
moon was just beginning to appear, Endymion asked her a rather strange
question, "Say Beryl... What do you think of the Lunarians?"
Beryl blinked at the suddenness of his question and asked, "What do you
mean by that?"
"You know... Do you think they're cruel for keeping immortality to
themselves? Do you hate them?" Endymion's eyes were sad and staring
off towards the rising moon with a longing in his eyes.
Beryl thought about it for a moment and shook her head, "No I don't
hate them. I don't see the need for immortality, nor would I care to
have it. Why would anyone want to live forever? Why would they want
to prolong their miserable existences and watch as those without the
"gift" die? The Lunarians have always been, kind compassionate, not to
mention peaceful people... How can I hate them for something beyond
their control?
"I think the Lunarians despise their immortality... The reason they
won't bestow it to us is because they know that the so called gift is
just a curse... A curse that no one, no matter how powerful can
break," Beryl continued to stare at the sun, the face of her father
coming back to her again. The ebony hair, muscular build, deep blue
eyes... She sighed, thinking, 'Endymion reminds me of him so much...'
Beryl was completely taken aback when she felt Endymion's arms wrap
around her in an embrace. At first Beryl didn't know quite what to do
or what was going on until Endymion spoke, "Thank you Beryl... You have
no idea what a help you have been..."
"You're welcome Endymion..." Beryl said breathlessly, wishing there
was a way to ensure that Endymion would never let go of her, 'I just
want to stay like this forever... Please don't let me go...'
Beryl's prayers went unanswered as Endymion released her from the
embrace, smiling wider than he ever had, "You've just solved a great
dilemma for me... Now I really do apologize, but I have to go. There's
someone I have to meet,"
Beryl nodded dumbly and whispered, "Sure Endymion... Of course..."
Endymion thanked her once more and then he ran off into the now dark
night. Beryl watched him go, fading off into the black of night. She
shivered, the world seeming like a barren wasteland now that his arms
weren't around her. Beryl sighed happily, wrapping her arms around her
chilled body, and headed for her own home.
Beryl stopped suddenly, as if something were forgotten. She looked off
in the direction Endymion had gone in, but he was no longer visible.
She smiled and whispered, "I love you..." and then looked up to the
moon with curiosity shining in her eyes, "But why are you acting this
way about them?"
*********************************************************** ************
When Beryl got home that night, she was very surprised to find both her
mother and her sister waiting for her. And neither of them looked at
all pleased, "Mother... Coral... What's wrong?"
Coral narrowed her eyes and said, "Mother is very upset with you..."
Beryl blinked, wondering what they were talking about, 'There's no way
they could know about Endymion... At least I hope they don't. I
haven't done anything... What's wrong with them?'
Coral pointed a finger at her sister and said, "You whore..."
"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Beryl cried, her voice betraying her
shock and sadness, "I have done nothing to-- Mother what is she talking
about?"
Beryl's mother didn't even look at her, and stared at the ground in
disgust. Beryl recoiled and looked up at Coral and said, "Coral...
sister... why are you--"
"How dare you call me your sister! I am mother's daughter, and it
shames her to have bore you! She refuses to acknowledge you as her
child. I am mother's only child, not you. And how dare you act like
you don't know what this is about!" Coral shouted.
Beryl gaped at her for a moment and finally said, "I honestly don't
know... Now would you please explain what this is about?"
Coral left her mother's side and slowly staked up to her older twin.
Her fiery were eyes were full of rage and contained the same look that
people have when they see the beggars' bodies lying in the street, with
the flies making their open wounds their homes. The look of utter
revile and contempt that had graced so many of the more privileged's
faces.
When Coral was standing nose to nose with her older sister, eyes of
fire staring into the frightened indigo depths, she spit in her face.
Beryl cried out in shock, and backed away from her younger sister,
subsequently tripping over her own feet and falling to the dirt floor.
She wiped the spittle off of her face and looked up to the still angry
face of her sister, asking, "Coral... for the last time, what is going
on?"
Coral snorted again and said, "Please... Since you choose to play dumb
like this, I'll enlighten you. I saw you today, running around with
that prince like he was nothing more than a beggar. It doesn't take
a scholar to realize how you managed to win him over,"
Beryl's violet eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe she had
been found out. She just sat there, stammering and stuttering
incoherent syllables that possibly could have formed words, but it was
doubtful. She shook her head, denying that this was happening at all,
'This is not happening... how... Oh my God, how did she find out?'
Beryl finally managed to regain the ability to speak, although she
could not bring herself to speak in a voice above a whisper, "Coral...
Mother... I... I can explain--"
"Explain what? Do you think we want some sort of detailed account of
everything you have done with that man?" Coral asked, "Beryl, mother
does not want to know what you have to done with him... or rather to
him. All mother wants is for you to get out of her sight and to never
so much as even hear your name again,"
"But Coral!" Beryl cried, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "If you
would just listen to me--"
"Get out!" Coral cried angrily, "Get out of here! Leave this place!
Go sleep with the rats and the dogs when you are not in the prince's
bed! Lie in the dirt and the slime of the streets, where whores like
you belong!" then Coral hauled the dark haired girl to her feet and
literally tossed her out of the home with a surprising amount of
strength.
Beryl once again screamed and landed face first in the dirt. She lay
on her stomach awhile, ignoring the pain she was feeling from the
landing. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and her heart felt like it
had been ripped apart. She bent her head in despair and sobbed, "You
don't understand... Why can't you understand...?"
Beryl lay there for awhile, sobbing in the silence of the night,
wishing things were different, wanting comfort, wanting love. Her
salty tears transformed a small patch of the ground into somewhat soggy
mud. She remained there for about ten minutes, unsure of what to do or
where to go, "I don't have anyone anymore... Daddy, what should I
do...?"
At the thought of her father, Beryl remembered there was someone who
could help her. She smiled slightly and pushed herself up out of the
dust. The she turned and ran towards the castle, knowing Endymion
would help her when he heard...
Meanwhile, back inside Beryl's former residence, Coral had once again
taken a place behind her mother, who's head was still bent and staring
at the ground. All was silent for awhile until the older woman said,
"Good job Coral... The stage has been set. It is time,"
*********************************************************** ************
Beryl ran towards the castle, knowing she wasn't up to perform a long
distance teleport from her home... Lord knows where she would have
ended up had she attempted such a feat. When she reached the dismal
walls that surrounded the palace, Beryl wiped away any stray tears and
smoothed over her hopelessly tangled tresses as best as she could.
Then she muttered the incantation that would transport her inside and
accomplished her goal.
Beryl looked around the dark garden with slight trepidation. It looked
so different at night than it did in the daylight. Every flower seemed
a mutated form of itself, the rose's thorns seeming sharper and the
snap dragons appearing sinister beings in the ebony blanket she existed
in then. She looked around nervously and thought about were Endymion
might be in the entire palace.
Beryl sighed and rubbed her temples, "I should have thought this
through..." she leaned against the stone wall she was still standing
beside and sighed, "And why am I so sure he'll help me at all? It
isn't as if he loves me or anything... I know he thinks of me as only
a friend. And I know it could never be between the two of us... I
just hope he does find someone to love one of these days..."
Beryl sighed sadly placing a hand over her aching heart as if that
could possibly dull the pain and torture she was going through... All
of it had happened so fast. She had been thrown out of her home
because of a man she loved, but she knew he would never love her
back... She'd been shunned because of a silly dream she had been
entertaining all of this time and had refused to admit was false...
Beryl knew better now.
Beryl smiled softly in the dark, knowing she was going to have to
leave, "I can't burden him with my problems... He must have enough on
his mind without feeling guilty for my misfortune. I had better just
find my own way..."
Beryl pushed herself off of the wall and prepared to leave, when all
of a sudden she heard a high pitched, distinctly feminine giggle in the
distance. She furrowed her brow and decided to investigate, wondering
if she was not the only intruder that had decided to show up on that
night. A few frightening scenarios danced through her head which only
served to strengthen her resolve to find out what was going on.
Beryl stealthily made her way forward, creeping around on the balls of
her bare feet. Her eyes darted around wildly, as they began to adjust
to the darkness. It didn't seem quite as frightening anymore, but the
thoughts of what might possibly happen to Endymion and his family
drove her on and kept her adrenaline pumping.
Beryl continued sneaking around until at last she came to gazebo, a
spot Beryl loved dearly seeing as that is where she met her love. She
peered from behind a column and gasped. She was shocked, saddened, and
elated all at the same time by what she saw...
Another woman in Endymion's arms.
Beryl turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat and tears
welling up in her eyes. She pressed her back against the pillar in an
attempt to hide the fact that she had been there. She let out a shaky
sob as it all came together... She had seen the mark on the girl's
forehead... A golden crescent moon with their points pointing towards
the heavens... It was the mark of the royal moon family. That girl was
the beautiful and virginal Princess Serenity.
'That was why he was asking about them tonight... That was why he was
so eager to leave... He had to go see his love... Oh Endymion, why did
you not tell me? It is a forbidden match, but I wouldn't have told a
soul... You know I'd never do anything to hurt you...' Beryl thought
sadly.
Beryl let out a strangled sob, but immediately regretted it. She heard
the princess' voice call out, "Endymion, did you hear something?"
"No Serenity... I didn't hear anything..." Endymion whispered as if it
was muffled through the girl's snow white locks.
"But I was sure I heard... Well, it sounded like someone crying... It
was so sad..." Serenity insisted, "Endymion, can't we look? I'd hate
for anyone to suffer as much as that,"
Beryl was shocked at the girl's words, and even that was an
understatement, 'How can she be so compassionate? Doesn't she realize
anyone who would cry would be crying of a broken heart? Because of
her?' Beryl thought about that a moment and mumbled, "Maybe she does...
And she feels guilty because of it..."
"Endymion, I heard her talking now, please can we look?" Serenity
pressed.
Endymion sighed, obviously exasperated at his love's compassion, but at
the same time, delighted that she had it. He chuckled and said, "All
right Sere..."
Beryl tensed up at the prospect of being found out, 'No I can't face
him! Not now! I'd break down crying right in front of him and... Oh
God, I might confess everything! I have to get out of here... I have
to...'
Beryl took off running, ignoring Endymion's and Serenity's cries for
her to come back. She thought she heard Endymion voice call out her
name, but she knew it was too much to hope for. There was no way on
Earth that he could possibly recognize her.
'He loves her... He loves her... Oh my God... Endymion, I love you so
much but... I can't help being jealous of her. She's so beautiful and
loving and... She's everything I'm not...'
Beryl tripped over some shrubbery, but quickly scrambled to her feet,
unsure of Endymion's whereabouts. She wiped away her tears and
continued on, desperate to put more space between the two lovers and
herself.
'I was so stupid... Why did I stick around? Why did I even keep up the
hope that Endymion would grow to love me? Even when I said it wasn't
true moments ago, I still hoped. I wanted him... I still want him so
badly... But I know I'll never have him...'
'Damn it Endymion, can't you see how much I love you?'
After more than half an hour of running away, Beryl realized that she
had managed to get herself hopelessly lost. Beryl groaned and cursed
herself under her breath, "I have been here so many times, but it just
looks so different in the dark... Why did I come here in the first
place?"
"I was about to ask you the same question..." a deep voice whispered
sinisterly in her ear.
Beryl gasped and was about to turn around and face her attacker. Then
a sharp, hard object cam into contact with her skull and she crumpled
to the ground. She only remained conscious long enough to see that her
attacker had leaf green eyes and long hair before she blacked out...
*********************************************************** ************
Beryl groaned as a dim light pierced her vision. She quickly shut her
eyes, hissing in defiance, not wanting to face the light just then.
Her entire body ached, but her head and wrists in particular throbbed
with an ache unlike any she had experienced before. She dully realized
that she was on the cold, hard ground, the room most likely a dungeon
or cell judging by the shackles around her wrists that were unduly
chained to the wall. She straightened her legs, which had more than
likely been placed in the vastly uncomfortable position on purpose.
She groaned quietly, hoping some kind soul would hear her and release
her from her bonds.
Instead she got a smack in the face.
Beryl cried out in pain and forced her weighted lids open. She no
longer cared that she longed to slip back into the painless void, she
wanted to know who had been cruel enough to slap her. She couldn't
believe her eyes when she found herself staring into two crimson
orbs...
Into the eyes of her sister...
"Coral? I thought you wanted to be rid of me... Or have you decided
to distance yourself from mother at long last? Because God forbid you
should actually think for yourself... You know you'll go to hell, for
it... Isn't that what mommy dearest has been telling you all of these
years?"
That comment earned her yet another slap in the face.
Beryl growled and screamed, "Damn it Coral, can you do anything besides
hit me?!"
"Of course... For one I can kill you..." Coral said darkly. She
motioned towards the four men behind her, who until then had gone
unnoticed by Beryl, "Zoicite found you in the garden... It seems you
took a nasty blow to the head..."
Beryl narrowed her eyes angrily and said, "Gee, I wonder how that
happened..." Beryl decided her threat of death was nothing more than
a terrorist tactic to frighten her, and that it was not to be given any
credibility nor was Coral to be given any satisfaction by getting Beryl
to so much as twitch, "What do you want Coral? You were rid of me, so
why the kidnapping?"
Coral laughed a little and placed a hand on her hip. It was then that
Beryl saw that her outfit was very... un-Coral like. It was of the
deepest shade of violet imaginable and left very little to the
imagination. Beryl was positive that if any more cleavage were being
shown, she could be arrested. There was a slit in her skirt up to the
very top of her thigh, and she was standing in a way that her entire
leg was exposed. Beryl couldn't help but wonder what had possessed the
girl to suddenly go against her painfully modest nature...
She didn't have to wonder for long.
"What's with the outfit Coral? Is mother soliciting you now?" Beryl
asked snidely.
Coral narrowed her eyes at her sister and said, "Oh give it a rest
Beryl... Be thankful I've kept you alive, against mother's wishes by
the way..."
Beryl blinked in surprise and felt her already broken heart shatter.
It had come to that... Her mother wanted her dead... No matter how
impossible the notion sounded, Beryl knew it was true... Her mother
wanted hr dead, her sister hated her, and the love of her life would
never be hers...
"Why? Do enjoy seeing me suffer?" Beryl asked sadly.
Coral cackled and said, "Now you're getting the idea!" her voice was a
little too happy and too vigorous for Beryl's tastes, but she said
nothing. Her sister continued, "You see I want you to know what is
going to happen to all your little associates after you're dead and
gone in about... fifteen minutes or so." Coral smiled and said.
"First of all, let us start with the royal family... Of Earth
respectively... You see, mother doesn't particularly like the fact that
Endymion's family is in power... They claim to have freed the magic
wielders from oppression, yet we cannot even perform a simple spell in
public out of fear of execution...
"They're hypocrites... And we are revolting..."
"No arguments here," Beryl said snidely, "Why do you bother?
Endymion's family didn't kill father! They killed his killers!"
Coral growled and said, "This isn't about father, idiot! This is about
the people!"
Beryl blinked in surprise and whispered, "What..."
"You see, we are not the only people tired of their rule... Poor people
litter the streets, do they care? There are prostitutes on every
corner, most of them forced to work that way to support their children,
but do they try to help? You and I had to steal to survive, but did
your precious Endymion offer to help you at all? Children are without
mothers, and widows without husbands, but do they offer any compassion
or compensation? Do they even know about these problems? NO!"
"You're going to kill them for their ignorance?" Beryl cried.
"We're going to kill them for not even bothering to see if they were
wrong about our situation! They didn't even look to see if we were all
right!" Coral cried.
'They're trying to help...? But... I don't understand this at all...'
Beryl thought about it for a moment, until it dawned on her what was
really going on.
"You liar! You and mother could care less about the poor! You spit on
them as if you are better, even though you are of the same class!
Mother just wants power! Both of you want power and wealth! That is
all this is about!"
Coral smiled and began clapping, slow and deliberate, "Well... it looks
as though mother has been found out... Can't get anything past you huh
Beryl?"
Beryl growled again and spit in her general direction. It landed a few
feet short of her sister, which only served to add to both of their
anger.
Coral sneered and continued, "Well, since the game has been ruined,
I'll go on truthfully... Our next target, after overthrowing the
current government will be conquering the moon..."
Beryl's eyes widened as she screamed, "What?! Coral, for the love of
God, there's no reason to--"
"Oh but there is... You see, most of the Terrans hate the Lunarians...
I hate them as well. I want their immortality... I crave their power.
I long for their life... I want to take them down Beryl. I want to
ascend to the Lunarian throne and rule the universe with an iron fist.
They'll worship me like a goddess Beryl, and you'll be here, chained to
this wall with the rats gnawing at your eyes..." Coral hissed.
Beryl smirked and said, "You... not mother..."
Coral smiled and said, "Yes... you're beginning to get the idea
sister... Perhaps you aren't a lost cause..."
Coral had moved forward during her tirade and was now close enough for
Beryl to hit her target. She spit at her sister again, this time
hitting her right in the face. As Coral screeched and staggered back,
Beryl yelled, "Not too pleasant is it?!"
Coral growled and screamed, "And now for your Endymion!"
Beryl blinked and felt her throat tighten. Her heart stopped and her
breath stopped making its way in and out of her lungs as it usually
did. She felt beads of perspiration begin to form on her forehead.
She had hoped Coral would not detail her love's fate, but now she
realized it had been foolish to even hope... Ironically, just like
Endymion...
"He'll survive the invasion of the castle... Then he'll go to the moon,
to his precious Serenity..."
Beryl gasped, 'How could she know? Oh my God...'
"No! Coral, please! Have some compassion!" Beryl cried, "Why can't you
just let them live in peace? What have they ever done to you?!"
"Been together!" Coral screamed, tears forming in her eyes, "You think
you're the only one who loved Endymion?! Well, you're not...
"Damn you, you've been nothing but a thorn in my side since you came
out of the womb before me... I have lived my entire life in your shadow
Beryl! I was always second to you! Daddy loved you the best, you were
the strongest in magic, and now you got to spend time with Endymion!
All because you were a dreamer... Had I stuck around, I might have
gotten him instead of you! But no, it was you he had in his bed, and
not me! It isn't fair Beryl! It was never fair!"
"Mother loved you the best! Doesn't that matter to you at all?!" Beryl
cried, all of the information her sister had just fed her canceling out
every other semi-intelligent thought.
"Mother doesn't love anyone... I'm just loyal to her, unlike you!"
Coral motioned to a man with long brown hair and her thrust a sword in
her direction. Coral caught it with ease and then stared her sister
right between the eyes, "I lived in your shadow all of my life... But
no more..."
Coral stalked forward, her eyes wild with some sort of feral excitement
as Beryl tried to escape her confines. The elder tried desperately to
loosen the shackles and run, but to no avail. She tried to scream, but
just like those dreams all children had, no sound came. She struggled
to come up with an incantation to aid her, but the words failed her.
She felt tears spring to her eyes as she realized it was no use and
bent her head in submission.
Finally, Coral was standing above her, silver blade raised over her
head. Coral smiled sadistically and whispered, "Just like Daddy..."
and then brought the sword down, slicing through her neck in one fell
swoop.
Coral watched passively as her older sisters head fell to the ground
and rolled in front of her feet. She looked at it, annoyed, and kicked
it like it was a ball. It was sent hurtling towards the stone wall,
and splattered, a sickening pattern of blood staining the rock.
Coral dropped the bloodied blade on the ground and said, "Now for the
transformation..." Coral shut her eyes and concentrated for a few
moments. Her brow was furrowed in intense thought and the other
generals wondered if she would ever come out of it.
A few moments later, Coral's eyes flew open, and there was a vermillion
flash of light. When the flash faded, there stood Coral, her
appearance changed... Altered beyond recognition... At least not of
her.
Coral was now the spitting image of Beryl, black locks and all.
Coral cackled loudly and said, "Oh, this will kill Endymion! To have
his mistress organize a... "revolution" if you will, will absolutely
destroy him..." Coral took in a deep breath, reveling in this new
feeling.
Suddenly, the general with short blond hair spoke, "Are you going to
tell your mother about your plans for the moon?"
Coral looked at him harshly and screeched, "You know that is not how
you refer to as! From now on, we all call her by her rightful title...
Empress Metallia!"
The general gulped and muttered, "Of course... Queen Beryl..."
Coral smiled and said, "That's better General Jadeite... And yes I will
inform her of it... Come now. We must go," Coral began to walk towards
the exit when she passed a mirror. She backtracked and sighed sadly.
"Is something wrong... Queen Beryl?" Kunzite forced out.
"Nothing of importance... But if we ever have to do this again, remind
me to stick with red,"
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~*
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I bet you never ever saw that plot twist coming! I am the queen of
plot twists! I could work for CLAMP I'm so good!! Ok maybe not, but
you have to admit, that was good. ^_^
I'm sorry, I'm incredibly narcissistic... Ah vanity, gotta love it!
Almost as much as I love the movie "The Devil's Advocate" ^.~
Hope ya liked that... Feedback would be greatly appreciated! ^_^
1/1
by Kihin Ranno
silver_siren2@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/kihin_rann o/starlithorizon.html
PG-13
~~Date Started: December 14, 2001~~
~~Date Completed: January 27, 2002~~
Hey minna! I'm glad to see you haven't completely given up on me
writing something... ^^; I know it has been awhile. I was under a
little bit of overload, but now I'm better and ready to get back to
my old way of writing.
Anyway, this is a fic whose concept I have not seen before. It's a
Beryl fic, very original... ^_^ I love originality.
I admit, I have always been greatly intrigued with the concept of
Beryl... Naoko's weakness was developing villains, and I was always a
little saddened that Naoko never tried to delve deeper into Beryl prior
to her being corrupted by Metallia. I was disappointed the anime
didn't try it either... And I am disappointed no one in the fan fic
world has tackled this (at least not an entire fic dedicated to the
subject as far as I know). I have seen very few fics actually centered
around Beryl, and all of those usually occur during her reign of
terror. So, I'm doing it. ^_^ I'm also taking the liberty of
answering some unanswered questions...
Anywho, Sailor Moon is not mine. I have many many many many many MANY
voices in my head telling my otherwise, but I do manage to retain
remnants of my non existent sanity. This fiction is mine and always
will be mine. So do not take it! And do not take any characters you
have not heard of in the normal SM universe!
One last thing... I'd like to dedicate this fic to an old friend of
mine who will most likely never read it, but such is life... We were
best friends years ago, and we drifted apart. We survived the constant
arguments of our youth, rumors, tears, betrayals, and stupidity... In
the end we ended up succumbing to the culprit of time. It was a bitch,
but now its over I suppose... Just something I had to say so that you
know I haven't forgotten you, and a word of advice to others... Never
get too proud thinking you and your friends, family, and lovers can
survive everything when you have... because no matter what, time
always wins.
Now, on with the show...
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~*
A young woman, no older than sixteen peeked out from around the stone
corner, her rouge eyes darting around frightfully. The wind blew her
long, cherry colored hair about wildly. Her nails were painted an
equally rosy color, all though they were severely damaged having been
placed in her mouth and chewed upon at least ten times in the last two
minutes. She brought her fingers to her mouth to commence chewing on
them again, when she looked down and noticed how utterly hideous they
were. Her fair face curled up into a look of disgust and she opted to
chew on her lip instead. She looked around again and again, waiting
for the coast to become clear. It took a good twenty minutes and
during that time, she managed to wear off the top layer of dead skin
on her lower lip so that that new layer, which had not been exposed to
the outside, ached slightly.
Finally, all the people who had been in the street disappeared and
there was no one else in sight. The young woman sighed and hurriedly
beckoned to another figure standing behind her. "I cannot believe you
talked me into this Beryl... I swear if mother ever finds out we were
here--"
"Oh come off it Coral!" Beryl bubbled, her tone laced with a slight
hint of exasperation. She ran a hand through her ridiculously long,
ebony locks and looked around, "Come on, no one is around now. Let's
go!" Beryl grabbed Coral's hand and quite literally dragged her across
the street at a break neck pace. The latter woman protested quietly,
but didn't put up enough of a fight to actually get away from Beryl.
When they made it across the dusty street, they were standing right by
a grey stone wall, which was a good two feet taller than the both of
them put together. Coral groaned and said, "Got any bright ideas for
this obstacle, Beryl?"
Beryl giggled and winked, "You dear sister, are far too pessimistic for
your own good. There are many ways to travel from one place to
another..."
Coral paled and said, "Oh Beryl, please don't--"
"Humadai, lumudai... Manarai, anashai... Trebolii, hemoshi...
Ganaraka, makashii!"
A few moments later, there was a flash of deep indigo light, and the
two sisters had disappeared. They soon reappeared on the other side
of the wall. Beryl was smiling brightly, while Coral was fuming...
and it was hardly silent, "Beryl, I cannot believe you did that! You
aren't supposed to use magic unless it is an extreme emergency, and
you are certainly not permitted to use out it in the open like that!
Oh, if mother ever hears--"
Beryl groaned and whined, "Oh come on, Coral... Live a little! All I
want to do is see Prince Endymion up close for once, and I know you
want to as well... Now please, shut your trap and come on!" Beryl
grabbed Coral's hand again and dragged her through the palace's lush
and well kempt gardens, making sure to watch out for any guards on
duty. Coral stopped her moaning and kept silent, not wanting to be
caught on the palace grounds.
After thirty minutes of searching Coral sighed and said, "We should
have found Prince Endymion by now... Perhaps we should just take our
leave,"
Beryl shook her head, "Absolutely not! I will not leave this place
until I figure out what color his eyes are!"
Coral sighed and said, "You're so stubborn... Not to mention, you're
head is always in the clouds. Who cares what color his eyes are, and
who cares how handsome and brave he is! You'll never have him, you
and I both know that..."
Beryl growled and snapped, "At least I have faith in something other
than mother... That's all you care about, and that's all you'll ever
be. Mother's servant," then Beryl dropped Coral's hand and ran off.
"Beryl! Oh curses..." Coral said, stamping her foot angrily, "Fine
then! Get caught and rot in King Endymion's dungeons for all I care!
I am leaving!!" then Coral repeated the incantation Beryl had recited
earlier and vanished in a flash of crimson.
Beryl ran for about five minutes, putting as much distance between
herself and her sister as possible, unaware that she had been
deserted. She didn't shed a tear, but threw a tantrum in the silence
of her mind, 'How dare that little wench insult me like that! Why in
heaven's name do I take her anywhere? She may be my twin but we are
as different as twilight and sunrise... Why does she always have to be
so cruel?!'
Beryl stopped and ran up behind a gazebo, her body shaking from the
effort it took her not to cry. Beryl had not cried since she was a
little girl, no older than three. Her sister Coral was three also,
seeing as the two were twins. Even so, Beryl had been born a full
13 minutes earlier than her sister, and was therefore older.
Beryl sighed as she recalled the last day she had allowed her tears
to flow...
It had been 13 years before, just before King Endymion had come to
power. The king had perished, leaving no heir, and nothing but utter
chaos ensued. The old king (whose name was forgotten by her and she
dared not to inquire about it) had had a ruthless chamberlain, who was
said to have slain the king and queen in their sleep, but it was never
proven. In any event, the chamberlain took over the throne. And then
the year of hell had begun...
The new "king" absolutely despised anyone with magical abilities. Or
at the very least he feared them, scared that they would gather
together and overpower him. He need not have feared so, unless of
course he had been tyrannous in other ways. But the point is, he did
fear them and thus deemed it necessary to wipe them all out.
He hunted them down, slaying them in the worst ways imaginable. He
and his associates were permanently stained with blood, their flesh
literally pinker than any normal human being. It was a blessing for
all who held magic, for they knew who to trust. But the first wave...
The first terrifying massacre that had occurred, had not been lucky
enough. They had not known they were to die until seconds before their
hearts stopped beating and their lungs ceased functioning.
Toward the end of the reign of terror, the chamberlain had come after
her family. They were descended of an incredibly powerful line of
sorcerers and witches and of all of the magic holders, they were the
ones that the overlord feared the most.
And still they had been one of the last targets.
Her family had hid themselves as well as they could, but they had
needed not be. For one reason or another, the king had not even
bothered to come after them until the end of that year. It had always
confused Beryl a great deal and she had spent many a sleepless night
pondering over the subject, but all of her scrutiny had yielded
nothing.
Along with trying to figure out just why this evil twisted character
had enjoyed toying with them so, she had also been given the
opportunity to go over that horrific day over and over again. She had
not allowed herself to forget one minute about those terrifying
hours...
There had been a knock at the door, the sound of it reverberating on
the stone walls. It had been loud, forceful, and very deliberate. As
if whoever was knocking knew exactly what to expect when and if the
door was opened to him. That knock at the door carried the strongest
sense of foreboding Beryl had ever felt, and she wanted to do nothing
but grab her father and run away. She had not known why she didn't
want to take the others with her until later.
They had all been frightened beyond belief, seeing as they had just
moved again, their belongings not even placed accordingly. Coral had
immediately gone to hide behind her mother's skirts, whimpering and
crying all the way. Their father had immediately become tense,
reaching under his cloak and putting a hand on the dagger Beryl knew to
be there. Beryl had done her best to look brave, but she knew it was
futile.
Her father had instructed them all to run and hide somewhere where they
could not be found. He told them that no matter what they heard or
saw, they could not move or make a sound. Coral and her mother had
quickly complied, but Beryl had not wanted to leave her father alone.
The knock came again, louder, and accompanied by and angry call for the
door to opened immediately or they would break it down.
Beryl's father had grabbed her, shoving her behind a stack of boxes and
an assortment of clothes, tablecloths, and books. Beryl had tried to
protest, but he had insisted she stay there. So she reluctantly
held her place and kept silent as her father opened the door...
He never had a chance...
"Excuse me miss?"
Beryl gasped in surprise at her thoughts and memories being interrupted
so abruptly. Her eyes flew open, a ready made apology resting on her
tongue just waiting to be said. But the words would not come as her
eyes locked with a pair of stormy cobalt orbs, the hue's pigmentation
being like none she could even begin to have fathomed before she saw
it then. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart stopped
palpitating as she set eyes on the one she had been searching for.
Prince Endymion smiled slightly and said, "Miss... You do realize that
you aren't permitted to be in here, correct?"
Beryl felt her pale cheeks stain pink and ducked her head down slightly
to prevent him from seeing it. She cleared her throat and said, "Well
I... umm... I mean... You see... Your highness, I--"
Endymion chuckled as she fumbled about for some way to duck out of her
predicament and smiled wider, "Then you are aware... To be honest, I
don't see you as a threat, but my guardians are slightly psychopathic
about my safety and whatnot. I honestly don't mind who comes or goes,
as long as they don't try to kill me,"
Beryl's face flushed a deeper shade of crimson as she forced out, "I
can't imagine anyone who would want to do that your highness..."
'Oh my God, I cannot believe I just said that! What's wrong with me?!
Oh my God...' Beryl thought frantically.
Endymion smiled again and said, "That's very kind of you miss...?"
"Beryl your majesty," Beryl responded meekly as she shifted nervously
from foot to foot.
Endymion sighed and said, "How I loathe those titles... I'm really not
different from anyone else. I was just born lucky,"
Beryl flushed even more and said, "Forgive me your hi--" Beryl clamped
a hand over her mouth and silently cursed herself for being such a
complete moron.
Endymion laughed and shook his head, "Ah well... If people want to
call me that I suppose I'll just let it slide. I just wish my
guardians would loosen up once in awhile... Heck, I wish they'd let
me out of this castle. I haven't seen the outside world since we took
over,"
Beryl flinched at the mention of that as she considered her words
carefully, her ecstatic thoughts running wild in her head, 'This is too
perfect... I can't believe this kind of thing is just falling into my
lap like this! It would be so simple... If I can get the words out,
which may prove difficult... Oh for heaven's sake girl, get a backbone
and say something!'
"I could... sneak you out... if you really wanted to see the outside.
I got in here after all..." Beryl said smiling shyly.
Endymion blanched at her sudden show of forwardness, making Beryl want
to recite the teleportation incantation immediately and pray to God
that no one ever heard about this. Then the prince thought about it
for awhile and shook his head, "I can't believe it... That's probably
the nicest thing anyone has ever offered to do... Not to mention the
most dangerous... I can't believe I'm doing this but... Yes. I'll
go,"
It took all of the restraint in Beryl's body not to jump for joy. She
knew she was beaming, and very near to the point of being down right
giddy. Beryl just continued smiling and said, "All right... I'll be
back tomorrow. I've been here to long as it is. Until tomorrow..."
then Beryl turned and ran before any more words could be exchanged.
******************************************************* ****************
The next day, Beryl slipped, unnoticed, into the palace (this time
deeming it appropriate to leave Coral at home) and snuck Endymion out
of the palace where he could at last be free from his duties and from
protocol. He had had the foresight to wear less than regal clothing,
lest he be caught and get both him and Beryl in danger. Beryl had
immediately felt much more comfortable with him when he wasn't dressed
in his royal armor... Now he seemed almost normal.
Once they had made it over the wall by way of physical force over
magic since Beryl could not reveal her powers to anyone, even the
son of the man who had liberated them, Endymion just gawked for awhile.
Beryl raised an eyebrow and awaited him to become animated again. When
a fairly good amount of time had passed she waved a hand in front of
his face and called, "Hello... Endymion... Wake up..."
Endymion blinked and looked at her in surprise. He turned a light
shade of red and said, "I'm sorry... It's just... I've never seen
anything like it before..." he breathed, sounding amazed.
Beryl looked at him with surprise and looked around at her
surroundings... A gray dismal wall encased the castle, obstructing the
entire thing from view. She knew its beauty, but few else had ever
seen the castle. And if they had, it had most likely been as they were
beings dragged off to the dungeon. The roads were dirt, gray and
dismal looking. The houses around them were stone as well, and very
modest compared to anything Prince Endymion had ever seen. She
couldn't understand why he was so excited about seeing such blaze and
asinine things.
"Endymion... you should be glad. I'd give my right arm to have never
seen any of this. Granted it is much better than before your family
came to power, but its still not much to look at," Beryl said
cautiously, not wanting to offend him, "Why are you so happy to
something so bleak?"
Endymion shook his head, "You wouldn't understand Beryl... Just trust
me when I say that power and wealth are far bleaker than this at
times,"
Beryl stared at him in disbelief and shook her head, "Whatever you
say Endymion... Well, this isn't all there is, now come on!" Beryl
grabbed his hand and ran down the street, pulling Endymion along
behind her.
For the next few hours, Beryl showed him all around the city and
the things around it. From the bustling marketplace where she taught
him how to steal food without getting caught, to the fountains where
picking pockets became a way of life. At first Endymion had been
appalled at her behavior, but then she explained that she really had
no other way of getting money... Also, she never stole from the poor,
only form those who could afford to lose a couple of silver coins.
After she had nearly gotten caught, she decided it would be best if
she showed him the forest surrounding the capitol.
"So, that's how people on the outside survive?" Endymion asked in
disbelief, "I never realized..."
Beryl shrugged and said, "Hey don't feel bad about it. I know I
shouldn't be stealing, but that's really all I can do... Just please
don't lecture me about it. I'd hate to start confusing you with
Coral,"
"Who's Coral?" Endymion inquired.
Beryl rolled her eyes and groaned, "My brat of a twin sister... She is
the most annoying, selfish, stuck up, snotty little twit to have ever
been placed on this earth. Not to mention, she worships the ground
my mother walks on... And my mother isn't all that great. She is
constantly lecturing me about every single thing I do... I don't enjoy
being belittled by the little wench..."
Endymion laughed and said, "Sounds nice to me... I'd love to have a
sibling... Preferably an older one to be honest,"
Beryl shook her head, "Trust me. Siblings are not a blessing..."
"What about the rest of your family?"
Beryl shook her head and said, "There's no one else. Just me, Coral,
and my mother,"
"What about your father?"
Beryl stopped in her tracks, her mood changing in the blink of an eye.
She clenched her fists and looked away from the disguised prince of
Earth, not wanting him to see her anger and anguish about the whole
situation, 'Why did you have to bring him up? Why couldn't you have
just left it alone...?'
Endymion knew by her body language what had happened to her father
and felt like smacking himself, "I... I'm sorry Beryl... I wasn't
thinking..."
Beryl nodded and voiced her acceptance in total deadpan, "Of course...
Don't worry... Its all right..."
Endymion sighed and said, "Its getting late... I should probably be
heading back to palace... Kunzite's going to kill me for being out all
day," Endymion turned and walked past her, expecting her not to say
anything more and never hear from her again.
"I'll see you tomorrow Endymion," Beryl called out after him, her
voice a little less pained. Beryl smiled slightly at his surprise
and said, "What? You're not to blame for ignorance,"
Endymion smiled, feeling relieved that she was all right and nodded,
"See you tomorrow!" then he dashed off towards the palace.
Beryl sighed as he went, a sudden breeze blowing her hair about
wildly, "And I cannot hold a grudge against you..."
********************************************************** ************
Beryl continued to come back to the palace almost every day, weather
and time permitting. Endymion thoroughly enjoyed their outings, happy
that at least one person wasn't so formal with him all the time. It
had been months since it began, and still no one had recognized the
prince for who he was... And she was pleased that Coral had not yet
realized what was going on. Her older sister grilled her every night
as to what she did by day, but so far, her rendezvous with Endymion had
been kept secret.
Towards the end of one of those outings, when the sun was setting in
the west, creating a gorgeous display of colors in the sky, and the
moon was just beginning to appear, Endymion asked her a rather strange
question, "Say Beryl... What do you think of the Lunarians?"
Beryl blinked at the suddenness of his question and asked, "What do you
mean by that?"
"You know... Do you think they're cruel for keeping immortality to
themselves? Do you hate them?" Endymion's eyes were sad and staring
off towards the rising moon with a longing in his eyes.
Beryl thought about it for a moment and shook her head, "No I don't
hate them. I don't see the need for immortality, nor would I care to
have it. Why would anyone want to live forever? Why would they want
to prolong their miserable existences and watch as those without the
"gift" die? The Lunarians have always been, kind compassionate, not to
mention peaceful people... How can I hate them for something beyond
their control?
"I think the Lunarians despise their immortality... The reason they
won't bestow it to us is because they know that the so called gift is
just a curse... A curse that no one, no matter how powerful can
break," Beryl continued to stare at the sun, the face of her father
coming back to her again. The ebony hair, muscular build, deep blue
eyes... She sighed, thinking, 'Endymion reminds me of him so much...'
Beryl was completely taken aback when she felt Endymion's arms wrap
around her in an embrace. At first Beryl didn't know quite what to do
or what was going on until Endymion spoke, "Thank you Beryl... You have
no idea what a help you have been..."
"You're welcome Endymion..." Beryl said breathlessly, wishing there
was a way to ensure that Endymion would never let go of her, 'I just
want to stay like this forever... Please don't let me go...'
Beryl's prayers went unanswered as Endymion released her from the
embrace, smiling wider than he ever had, "You've just solved a great
dilemma for me... Now I really do apologize, but I have to go. There's
someone I have to meet,"
Beryl nodded dumbly and whispered, "Sure Endymion... Of course..."
Endymion thanked her once more and then he ran off into the now dark
night. Beryl watched him go, fading off into the black of night. She
shivered, the world seeming like a barren wasteland now that his arms
weren't around her. Beryl sighed happily, wrapping her arms around her
chilled body, and headed for her own home.
Beryl stopped suddenly, as if something were forgotten. She looked off
in the direction Endymion had gone in, but he was no longer visible.
She smiled and whispered, "I love you..." and then looked up to the
moon with curiosity shining in her eyes, "But why are you acting this
way about them?"
*********************************************************** ************
When Beryl got home that night, she was very surprised to find both her
mother and her sister waiting for her. And neither of them looked at
all pleased, "Mother... Coral... What's wrong?"
Coral narrowed her eyes and said, "Mother is very upset with you..."
Beryl blinked, wondering what they were talking about, 'There's no way
they could know about Endymion... At least I hope they don't. I
haven't done anything... What's wrong with them?'
Coral pointed a finger at her sister and said, "You whore..."
"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Beryl cried, her voice betraying her
shock and sadness, "I have done nothing to-- Mother what is she talking
about?"
Beryl's mother didn't even look at her, and stared at the ground in
disgust. Beryl recoiled and looked up at Coral and said, "Coral...
sister... why are you--"
"How dare you call me your sister! I am mother's daughter, and it
shames her to have bore you! She refuses to acknowledge you as her
child. I am mother's only child, not you. And how dare you act like
you don't know what this is about!" Coral shouted.
Beryl gaped at her for a moment and finally said, "I honestly don't
know... Now would you please explain what this is about?"
Coral left her mother's side and slowly staked up to her older twin.
Her fiery were eyes were full of rage and contained the same look that
people have when they see the beggars' bodies lying in the street, with
the flies making their open wounds their homes. The look of utter
revile and contempt that had graced so many of the more privileged's
faces.
When Coral was standing nose to nose with her older sister, eyes of
fire staring into the frightened indigo depths, she spit in her face.
Beryl cried out in shock, and backed away from her younger sister,
subsequently tripping over her own feet and falling to the dirt floor.
She wiped the spittle off of her face and looked up to the still angry
face of her sister, asking, "Coral... for the last time, what is going
on?"
Coral snorted again and said, "Please... Since you choose to play dumb
like this, I'll enlighten you. I saw you today, running around with
that prince like he was nothing more than a beggar. It doesn't take
a scholar to realize how you managed to win him over,"
Beryl's violet eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe she had
been found out. She just sat there, stammering and stuttering
incoherent syllables that possibly could have formed words, but it was
doubtful. She shook her head, denying that this was happening at all,
'This is not happening... how... Oh my God, how did she find out?'
Beryl finally managed to regain the ability to speak, although she
could not bring herself to speak in a voice above a whisper, "Coral...
Mother... I... I can explain--"
"Explain what? Do you think we want some sort of detailed account of
everything you have done with that man?" Coral asked, "Beryl, mother
does not want to know what you have to done with him... or rather to
him. All mother wants is for you to get out of her sight and to never
so much as even hear your name again,"
"But Coral!" Beryl cried, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "If you
would just listen to me--"
"Get out!" Coral cried angrily, "Get out of here! Leave this place!
Go sleep with the rats and the dogs when you are not in the prince's
bed! Lie in the dirt and the slime of the streets, where whores like
you belong!" then Coral hauled the dark haired girl to her feet and
literally tossed her out of the home with a surprising amount of
strength.
Beryl once again screamed and landed face first in the dirt. She lay
on her stomach awhile, ignoring the pain she was feeling from the
landing. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and her heart felt like it
had been ripped apart. She bent her head in despair and sobbed, "You
don't understand... Why can't you understand...?"
Beryl lay there for awhile, sobbing in the silence of the night,
wishing things were different, wanting comfort, wanting love. Her
salty tears transformed a small patch of the ground into somewhat soggy
mud. She remained there for about ten minutes, unsure of what to do or
where to go, "I don't have anyone anymore... Daddy, what should I
do...?"
At the thought of her father, Beryl remembered there was someone who
could help her. She smiled slightly and pushed herself up out of the
dust. The she turned and ran towards the castle, knowing Endymion
would help her when he heard...
Meanwhile, back inside Beryl's former residence, Coral had once again
taken a place behind her mother, who's head was still bent and staring
at the ground. All was silent for awhile until the older woman said,
"Good job Coral... The stage has been set. It is time,"
*********************************************************** ************
Beryl ran towards the castle, knowing she wasn't up to perform a long
distance teleport from her home... Lord knows where she would have
ended up had she attempted such a feat. When she reached the dismal
walls that surrounded the palace, Beryl wiped away any stray tears and
smoothed over her hopelessly tangled tresses as best as she could.
Then she muttered the incantation that would transport her inside and
accomplished her goal.
Beryl looked around the dark garden with slight trepidation. It looked
so different at night than it did in the daylight. Every flower seemed
a mutated form of itself, the rose's thorns seeming sharper and the
snap dragons appearing sinister beings in the ebony blanket she existed
in then. She looked around nervously and thought about were Endymion
might be in the entire palace.
Beryl sighed and rubbed her temples, "I should have thought this
through..." she leaned against the stone wall she was still standing
beside and sighed, "And why am I so sure he'll help me at all? It
isn't as if he loves me or anything... I know he thinks of me as only
a friend. And I know it could never be between the two of us... I
just hope he does find someone to love one of these days..."
Beryl sighed sadly placing a hand over her aching heart as if that
could possibly dull the pain and torture she was going through... All
of it had happened so fast. She had been thrown out of her home
because of a man she loved, but she knew he would never love her
back... She'd been shunned because of a silly dream she had been
entertaining all of this time and had refused to admit was false...
Beryl knew better now.
Beryl smiled softly in the dark, knowing she was going to have to
leave, "I can't burden him with my problems... He must have enough on
his mind without feeling guilty for my misfortune. I had better just
find my own way..."
Beryl pushed herself off of the wall and prepared to leave, when all
of a sudden she heard a high pitched, distinctly feminine giggle in the
distance. She furrowed her brow and decided to investigate, wondering
if she was not the only intruder that had decided to show up on that
night. A few frightening scenarios danced through her head which only
served to strengthen her resolve to find out what was going on.
Beryl stealthily made her way forward, creeping around on the balls of
her bare feet. Her eyes darted around wildly, as they began to adjust
to the darkness. It didn't seem quite as frightening anymore, but the
thoughts of what might possibly happen to Endymion and his family
drove her on and kept her adrenaline pumping.
Beryl continued sneaking around until at last she came to gazebo, a
spot Beryl loved dearly seeing as that is where she met her love. She
peered from behind a column and gasped. She was shocked, saddened, and
elated all at the same time by what she saw...
Another woman in Endymion's arms.
Beryl turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat and tears
welling up in her eyes. She pressed her back against the pillar in an
attempt to hide the fact that she had been there. She let out a shaky
sob as it all came together... She had seen the mark on the girl's
forehead... A golden crescent moon with their points pointing towards
the heavens... It was the mark of the royal moon family. That girl was
the beautiful and virginal Princess Serenity.
'That was why he was asking about them tonight... That was why he was
so eager to leave... He had to go see his love... Oh Endymion, why did
you not tell me? It is a forbidden match, but I wouldn't have told a
soul... You know I'd never do anything to hurt you...' Beryl thought
sadly.
Beryl let out a strangled sob, but immediately regretted it. She heard
the princess' voice call out, "Endymion, did you hear something?"
"No Serenity... I didn't hear anything..." Endymion whispered as if it
was muffled through the girl's snow white locks.
"But I was sure I heard... Well, it sounded like someone crying... It
was so sad..." Serenity insisted, "Endymion, can't we look? I'd hate
for anyone to suffer as much as that,"
Beryl was shocked at the girl's words, and even that was an
understatement, 'How can she be so compassionate? Doesn't she realize
anyone who would cry would be crying of a broken heart? Because of
her?' Beryl thought about that a moment and mumbled, "Maybe she does...
And she feels guilty because of it..."
"Endymion, I heard her talking now, please can we look?" Serenity
pressed.
Endymion sighed, obviously exasperated at his love's compassion, but at
the same time, delighted that she had it. He chuckled and said, "All
right Sere..."
Beryl tensed up at the prospect of being found out, 'No I can't face
him! Not now! I'd break down crying right in front of him and... Oh
God, I might confess everything! I have to get out of here... I have
to...'
Beryl took off running, ignoring Endymion's and Serenity's cries for
her to come back. She thought she heard Endymion voice call out her
name, but she knew it was too much to hope for. There was no way on
Earth that he could possibly recognize her.
'He loves her... He loves her... Oh my God... Endymion, I love you so
much but... I can't help being jealous of her. She's so beautiful and
loving and... She's everything I'm not...'
Beryl tripped over some shrubbery, but quickly scrambled to her feet,
unsure of Endymion's whereabouts. She wiped away her tears and
continued on, desperate to put more space between the two lovers and
herself.
'I was so stupid... Why did I stick around? Why did I even keep up the
hope that Endymion would grow to love me? Even when I said it wasn't
true moments ago, I still hoped. I wanted him... I still want him so
badly... But I know I'll never have him...'
'Damn it Endymion, can't you see how much I love you?'
After more than half an hour of running away, Beryl realized that she
had managed to get herself hopelessly lost. Beryl groaned and cursed
herself under her breath, "I have been here so many times, but it just
looks so different in the dark... Why did I come here in the first
place?"
"I was about to ask you the same question..." a deep voice whispered
sinisterly in her ear.
Beryl gasped and was about to turn around and face her attacker. Then
a sharp, hard object cam into contact with her skull and she crumpled
to the ground. She only remained conscious long enough to see that her
attacker had leaf green eyes and long hair before she blacked out...
*********************************************************** ************
Beryl groaned as a dim light pierced her vision. She quickly shut her
eyes, hissing in defiance, not wanting to face the light just then.
Her entire body ached, but her head and wrists in particular throbbed
with an ache unlike any she had experienced before. She dully realized
that she was on the cold, hard ground, the room most likely a dungeon
or cell judging by the shackles around her wrists that were unduly
chained to the wall. She straightened her legs, which had more than
likely been placed in the vastly uncomfortable position on purpose.
She groaned quietly, hoping some kind soul would hear her and release
her from her bonds.
Instead she got a smack in the face.
Beryl cried out in pain and forced her weighted lids open. She no
longer cared that she longed to slip back into the painless void, she
wanted to know who had been cruel enough to slap her. She couldn't
believe her eyes when she found herself staring into two crimson
orbs...
Into the eyes of her sister...
"Coral? I thought you wanted to be rid of me... Or have you decided
to distance yourself from mother at long last? Because God forbid you
should actually think for yourself... You know you'll go to hell, for
it... Isn't that what mommy dearest has been telling you all of these
years?"
That comment earned her yet another slap in the face.
Beryl growled and screamed, "Damn it Coral, can you do anything besides
hit me?!"
"Of course... For one I can kill you..." Coral said darkly. She
motioned towards the four men behind her, who until then had gone
unnoticed by Beryl, "Zoicite found you in the garden... It seems you
took a nasty blow to the head..."
Beryl narrowed her eyes angrily and said, "Gee, I wonder how that
happened..." Beryl decided her threat of death was nothing more than
a terrorist tactic to frighten her, and that it was not to be given any
credibility nor was Coral to be given any satisfaction by getting Beryl
to so much as twitch, "What do you want Coral? You were rid of me, so
why the kidnapping?"
Coral laughed a little and placed a hand on her hip. It was then that
Beryl saw that her outfit was very... un-Coral like. It was of the
deepest shade of violet imaginable and left very little to the
imagination. Beryl was positive that if any more cleavage were being
shown, she could be arrested. There was a slit in her skirt up to the
very top of her thigh, and she was standing in a way that her entire
leg was exposed. Beryl couldn't help but wonder what had possessed the
girl to suddenly go against her painfully modest nature...
She didn't have to wonder for long.
"What's with the outfit Coral? Is mother soliciting you now?" Beryl
asked snidely.
Coral narrowed her eyes at her sister and said, "Oh give it a rest
Beryl... Be thankful I've kept you alive, against mother's wishes by
the way..."
Beryl blinked in surprise and felt her already broken heart shatter.
It had come to that... Her mother wanted her dead... No matter how
impossible the notion sounded, Beryl knew it was true... Her mother
wanted hr dead, her sister hated her, and the love of her life would
never be hers...
"Why? Do enjoy seeing me suffer?" Beryl asked sadly.
Coral cackled and said, "Now you're getting the idea!" her voice was a
little too happy and too vigorous for Beryl's tastes, but she said
nothing. Her sister continued, "You see I want you to know what is
going to happen to all your little associates after you're dead and
gone in about... fifteen minutes or so." Coral smiled and said.
"First of all, let us start with the royal family... Of Earth
respectively... You see, mother doesn't particularly like the fact that
Endymion's family is in power... They claim to have freed the magic
wielders from oppression, yet we cannot even perform a simple spell in
public out of fear of execution...
"They're hypocrites... And we are revolting..."
"No arguments here," Beryl said snidely, "Why do you bother?
Endymion's family didn't kill father! They killed his killers!"
Coral growled and said, "This isn't about father, idiot! This is about
the people!"
Beryl blinked in surprise and whispered, "What..."
"You see, we are not the only people tired of their rule... Poor people
litter the streets, do they care? There are prostitutes on every
corner, most of them forced to work that way to support their children,
but do they try to help? You and I had to steal to survive, but did
your precious Endymion offer to help you at all? Children are without
mothers, and widows without husbands, but do they offer any compassion
or compensation? Do they even know about these problems? NO!"
"You're going to kill them for their ignorance?" Beryl cried.
"We're going to kill them for not even bothering to see if they were
wrong about our situation! They didn't even look to see if we were all
right!" Coral cried.
'They're trying to help...? But... I don't understand this at all...'
Beryl thought about it for a moment, until it dawned on her what was
really going on.
"You liar! You and mother could care less about the poor! You spit on
them as if you are better, even though you are of the same class!
Mother just wants power! Both of you want power and wealth! That is
all this is about!"
Coral smiled and began clapping, slow and deliberate, "Well... it looks
as though mother has been found out... Can't get anything past you huh
Beryl?"
Beryl growled again and spit in her general direction. It landed a few
feet short of her sister, which only served to add to both of their
anger.
Coral sneered and continued, "Well, since the game has been ruined,
I'll go on truthfully... Our next target, after overthrowing the
current government will be conquering the moon..."
Beryl's eyes widened as she screamed, "What?! Coral, for the love of
God, there's no reason to--"
"Oh but there is... You see, most of the Terrans hate the Lunarians...
I hate them as well. I want their immortality... I crave their power.
I long for their life... I want to take them down Beryl. I want to
ascend to the Lunarian throne and rule the universe with an iron fist.
They'll worship me like a goddess Beryl, and you'll be here, chained to
this wall with the rats gnawing at your eyes..." Coral hissed.
Beryl smirked and said, "You... not mother..."
Coral smiled and said, "Yes... you're beginning to get the idea
sister... Perhaps you aren't a lost cause..."
Coral had moved forward during her tirade and was now close enough for
Beryl to hit her target. She spit at her sister again, this time
hitting her right in the face. As Coral screeched and staggered back,
Beryl yelled, "Not too pleasant is it?!"
Coral growled and screamed, "And now for your Endymion!"
Beryl blinked and felt her throat tighten. Her heart stopped and her
breath stopped making its way in and out of her lungs as it usually
did. She felt beads of perspiration begin to form on her forehead.
She had hoped Coral would not detail her love's fate, but now she
realized it had been foolish to even hope... Ironically, just like
Endymion...
"He'll survive the invasion of the castle... Then he'll go to the moon,
to his precious Serenity..."
Beryl gasped, 'How could she know? Oh my God...'
"No! Coral, please! Have some compassion!" Beryl cried, "Why can't you
just let them live in peace? What have they ever done to you?!"
"Been together!" Coral screamed, tears forming in her eyes, "You think
you're the only one who loved Endymion?! Well, you're not...
"Damn you, you've been nothing but a thorn in my side since you came
out of the womb before me... I have lived my entire life in your shadow
Beryl! I was always second to you! Daddy loved you the best, you were
the strongest in magic, and now you got to spend time with Endymion!
All because you were a dreamer... Had I stuck around, I might have
gotten him instead of you! But no, it was you he had in his bed, and
not me! It isn't fair Beryl! It was never fair!"
"Mother loved you the best! Doesn't that matter to you at all?!" Beryl
cried, all of the information her sister had just fed her canceling out
every other semi-intelligent thought.
"Mother doesn't love anyone... I'm just loyal to her, unlike you!"
Coral motioned to a man with long brown hair and her thrust a sword in
her direction. Coral caught it with ease and then stared her sister
right between the eyes, "I lived in your shadow all of my life... But
no more..."
Coral stalked forward, her eyes wild with some sort of feral excitement
as Beryl tried to escape her confines. The elder tried desperately to
loosen the shackles and run, but to no avail. She tried to scream, but
just like those dreams all children had, no sound came. She struggled
to come up with an incantation to aid her, but the words failed her.
She felt tears spring to her eyes as she realized it was no use and
bent her head in submission.
Finally, Coral was standing above her, silver blade raised over her
head. Coral smiled sadistically and whispered, "Just like Daddy..."
and then brought the sword down, slicing through her neck in one fell
swoop.
Coral watched passively as her older sisters head fell to the ground
and rolled in front of her feet. She looked at it, annoyed, and kicked
it like it was a ball. It was sent hurtling towards the stone wall,
and splattered, a sickening pattern of blood staining the rock.
Coral dropped the bloodied blade on the ground and said, "Now for the
transformation..." Coral shut her eyes and concentrated for a few
moments. Her brow was furrowed in intense thought and the other
generals wondered if she would ever come out of it.
A few moments later, Coral's eyes flew open, and there was a vermillion
flash of light. When the flash faded, there stood Coral, her
appearance changed... Altered beyond recognition... At least not of
her.
Coral was now the spitting image of Beryl, black locks and all.
Coral cackled loudly and said, "Oh, this will kill Endymion! To have
his mistress organize a... "revolution" if you will, will absolutely
destroy him..." Coral took in a deep breath, reveling in this new
feeling.
Suddenly, the general with short blond hair spoke, "Are you going to
tell your mother about your plans for the moon?"
Coral looked at him harshly and screeched, "You know that is not how
you refer to as! From now on, we all call her by her rightful title...
Empress Metallia!"
The general gulped and muttered, "Of course... Queen Beryl..."
Coral smiled and said, "That's better General Jadeite... And yes I will
inform her of it... Come now. We must go," Coral began to walk towards
the exit when she passed a mirror. She backtracked and sighed sadly.
"Is something wrong... Queen Beryl?" Kunzite forced out.
"Nothing of importance... But if we ever have to do this again, remind
me to stick with red,"
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~*
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I bet you never ever saw that plot twist coming! I am the queen of
plot twists! I could work for CLAMP I'm so good!! Ok maybe not, but
you have to admit, that was good. ^_^
I'm sorry, I'm incredibly narcissistic... Ah vanity, gotta love it!
Almost as much as I love the movie "The Devil's Advocate" ^.~
Hope ya liked that... Feedback would be greatly appreciated! ^_^