Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Things Change ❯ Chapter 1: Wet Behind the Ears ( Chapter 1 )

Things Change

 

Chapter 1: Wet Behind the Ears

 

Rei remembered well the day her world changed and exactly who brought about that change. It wasn't as apparent to her then as it is now, but as one grows they become more aware of themselves and others. It can be a subtle change, or it can hit you one day out of the blue like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. Rei saw no sign of the complications awaiting her. There were times when she wondered if things would be different now if she hadn't waited so long to find her courage. She guessed that she was just a little too late.

 

+ - + - + - + - + - +

 

Being a guardian of the Moon Kingdom was not an easy job, though it was not a totally unpleasant one either, or so Rei had been told. The princess of Mars had her duties and this was one of them that she must accept regardless of her opinion on the matter. Rei, being the age of sixteen Earth years, was deemed ready to receive her training to be a guardian by all the sources who, well, deemed these sorts of things. She knew that this day would come eventually and, having prior knowledge, she was prepared for what awaited her at the Palace of the Moon. It was rather exciting at the time, to be going away from Mars to a whole new place, a world different from her own. Rei was not one to usually get so eager about much really, but any young woman, adolescent or not, was bound to muster up some enthusiasm out of the whole ordeal. After sixteen years of her staid and remarkably uneventful life on Mars she might finally get to live a bit. Now her life on Mars had not been a complete stagnate pool of boredom mind you. She did receive lessons daily that were to sculpt her into what a Martian princess was expected to represent. Although she did not find most of them half as interesting as her mentors seemed to think they were, she did take some pleasure in earning high respect among her instructors by displaying her remarkable talents in quickly harnessing her control over the Martian element. Fire.

 

Not in any of their many years alive had they seen someone so in control over the element. Rei did not merely control it. She ruled it. Held the reins so tightly and precisely, not asking, but commanding. It was natural to her. She liked to imagine that somewhere within herself burned an immense flame that she alone controlled. Others even spoke of how, sometimes, they swore that they saw a spark of that blaze burning in her violet eyes. Especially when her temper flared, which was not rare. As a result, not many approached the princess of Mars. With hair, darker than ebony, and an exotic beauty imminent in her adolescent form, most were intimidated by her. Rei, already withdrawn from those her own age, paid no head to any of this. She didn't mind being by herself and took pleasure in the solitude. She was going to the Palace of the Moon to become stronger and better herself in many ways. Rei figured that she'd pretty much learned all that she could on Mars and was ready for whatever awaited her on the Moon. Or so she thought.

 

+ - + - + - + - + - +

 

About a month later...

 

After long preparations and an even longer journey, Rei finally arrived on the Moon. Her first impression was one of wonder at the immense structure that had greeted her upon her arrival. It was a large Palace, bigger than any she'd ever seen. Well, she'd only really seen her own, back on Mars, but for a girl of her age it was really a sight to behold. Completely white, shining in the darkness of the space around it. It seemed to give off its own light. So pure it was that she feared to even touch the smooth surface of its outer walls. Passing through an arched doorway, she was lead into a large entrance hall in which she was instructed to stay for the time being. There, Rei was left alone, told that someone would fetch her soon. Rei stood silently and patiently, waiting for her escort to arrive. It had been an exhausting trip and she was ready for a good long nap and maybe something to eat would be nice. After a while she took a seat on one of the low couches that took up space along the walls. Who was to come get her? Had they forgotten the princess of Mars? It seemed unlikely, but she was beginning to wonder.

 

Just when she was coming to the decision to go and find someone to ask about the delay, she heard footsteps in one of the corridors off of the entrance hall. Getting up, she walked slowly towards the sound, which was getting louder and faster. Rei now realized that it was the sound of someone running, very fast it seemed. Just as she was turning the corner to look down the hall, a blur shot by her and into the room beyond, leaving behind the clean smell of soap and something underlying that. Rain? She heard a punctuated screeching noise behind her and she spun to see the figure come to a sliding stop.

 

A tall brunette looked upon her with an expression of confusion that turned into realization and ended with the girl slamming her fist into her hand, “Shit!” She said simply, then pointed at Rei. “You're the Martian, right?” She was slightly out of breath.

 

Rei just nodded, not knowing if she should be offended or not by such a casual reference. Behind her, Rei heard more footsteps, and another girl's voice, though the words were unclear. She looked down the hall, but saw nothing. Turning back to the brunette, she took in the girl's appearance now, at a loss for words. The girl was, to say the least, soaked to her skin. Water dripped from the dark green tunic and tattered brown pants she wore. Locks of her thick brown hair, which had escaped the ribbon that held it back, were plastered to her wet face. She was breathing hard and the water glistened off the lithe muscles of her bare arms. She half grinned in sheepishness at Rei's obvious inspection of her person.

 

“Sorry `bout not gettin here sooner. I had something very important to take care of.” There was a yelp from the hall, closer now. The girl grinned wholly now and went on, “I'll be right back and we'll get you to your room and all. Right now, I gotta run.” Now the footsteps were right behind Rei, and she knew that the other girl was just about to the doorway. The brunette turned abruptly to go and Rei watched in amusement as her first steps took her no where, or rather, her feet slipped once, then twice on the small puddle of water that had accumulated under her in her short reprieve. The girl's face registered shock as she went down, barely catching herself as she rolled into the fall. Rei cringed at the sound of the impact on the hard marble floor, then was surprised as another figure shot past her into the room.

 

The girl was blonde and, to Rei's embarrassment, half naked. She wore nothing but a towel and flew by Rei yelling several disjointed sentences. “Makoto, I shall kill you-.” Her angry shouts were cut short as she too fell victim to the slippery floor. Her feet slid about the floor below in a lively jig before abandoning her to the weight of her body, which hit the floor in much the same way as the brunette had.

 

Makoto sat up quickly, rubbing her shoulder and laughing hard. She'd witnessed the fall and found it hilarious. “Usagi, you never cease to amuse me. You alright?” She asked.

 

Usagi sat up silently, looking at the ground, pulling her towel tightly around her body. Makoto quieted for a moment and scooted closer, “Usagi?”

 

The blonde took no hesitation in jumping on Makoto and punching her in the arm repeatedly, “Which arm did you fall on Makoto, HMM? Was it THIS one?!” She yelled, jabbing at the indicated arm.

 

“Ow! Dammit, get away you idiot!” Makoto pushed Usagi back and rolled away from her, trying to make a run for it, only to fall on the slippery floor again. Usagi, in her haste to catch up, fell too. Finally, Rei stepped forward and stopped the scuffling by pulling Usagi up by her arms. It didn't take much strength, for the girl was light. Makoto sat grumbling while Usagi tried to put herself into some sense of order, adjusting her towel and smoothing her wet, pale blonde hair back. She thanked Rei, who nodded. Then she looked at Rei, confused. “Um...oh, never mind, we'll sort you out in a minute.” Rei, again, didn't know whether she should be offended or not, but remained silent as the girl turned to Makoto. Makoto had pulled the tie from her hair, and was now ringing the water from her wet locks.

 

“If you ever pull a stunt like that again, Makoto, so help me, I will never speak to you again. You never invade a woman's privacy like that!”

 

“Oh get over it! I wasn't in there waiting for you ya know!”

 

“Why would you have been waiting in there in the first place?!” Usagi yelled, her face flushed in anger.

 

Makoto stood, pulling her tunic back into position and rolling her right shoulder slowly, “I was waiting for an acquaintance,” she said in a matter-o-fact tone.

 

“Under the water?!”

 

Makoto coughed, pulling a cylindrical object, about a hand's span in length, from her pocket. More water hit the floor as she blew through the tube and then tossed it over her shoulder, “Yeah, harder `an hell to breath through that thing,” she mumbled, “that probably wasn't the best of ideas. I feel like a fish right about now,” she held a hand in front of her face, inspecting it, “a wrinkly fish at that.”

 

Usagi started into a steady rambling, “Do you not realize that this may traumatize me? Yes, that's it. I'll never be able to enter a bath again. Not one with bubbles at least. They'll have to search the water thoroughly first, and even then I won't feel safe. There will always be this fear of...of...”

 

“Someone pinching your rear?”

 

“You are so crude!” Usagi squealed.

 

“I am not,” Makoto said in mock offense. “Anyway, who takes a bath in the middle of the day?”

 

“I do!”

 

Makoto ignored her. “You ruined my plans with your self-indulgence. It wasn't your rear I was planning on pinching! It was a completely innocent mistake. If you hadn't come in, right now I could be...I could be,” She flexed her hands looking off into the distance with determination.

 

 

Usagi stared at Makoto for a second and then pointed at her accusingly, “So THAT'S why Elsa was so adamant about going into that particular bath when I was already prepared to go in.”

 

“And I bet you used your authority act to get in there ahead of her,” Makoto said dryly.

 

“I did not!”

 

Rei was tired of listening at this point and tried to cut in. “Um, excuse me, but I am a bit tired and, well-.”

 

“You always do that when you want something. You're such a spoiled brat, Usagi.” Makoto was walking past her. She stopped by Rei and looked at her, seeming to remember what she was there for. “Oh yeah, you. Come on,” she smiled and waved Rei to follow her, leaving a little trail of water in their wake.

 

“Where are you going? Don't walk away from me while I'm talking to you!” Usagi demanded.

 

Makoto grinned and kept walking, Rei followed in confusion, not really knowing how to take all of this. “I'm doing one of my royal duties Usagi. It's an assignment that I have to complete. One of my obligations to the throne.” She took on a haughty tone, “Some of us actually have important tasks to attend to.”

 

“Oh? And I'm sure that if I'd not walked into that bath, and if it had been Elsa whom you greeted, that you would have rushed here just the same? Which task would have been attended to then I wonder?” Usagi's sarcastic voice followed them down the hall, and Makoto wore a half grin as she directed Rei around another corner and out of sight, assuring her that she was the number one priority right now. “Don't pay any attention to her, I had everything covered,” she said, though Rei found herself doubting the green-eyed girl.

 

As they walked, Rei was surprised to find that this girl was the princess of Jupiter, Makoto, heir to the throne of Jupiter and one of the guardians she was to train with. “I've been here for about a year and a half already,” she told Rei, “In about another year or so, the princess of Venus will join us. Don't remember exactly how old the Mercurian one is, but I'd estimate maybe two or three years for her yet. She's the youngest ya know.” Rei nodded. She knew that she, herself, was the second oldest among the inner guardians, and this didn't bother her very much. She wondered what kind of person the princess of the Moon was.

 

Makoto rolled her eyes and gestured behind them, “Usagi doesn't begin her training until next year, and it's making her a bit restless. She's pretty excited about it, I mean, we all probably are to an extent.”

 

“Usagi? What is she heir of?”

 

Makoto laughed, “The Moon of course.”

 

“Oh.” Was all Rei could bring herself to say. For some reason, she had a totally different image of the princess in her mind. The girl they'd left standing half naked and yelling in the entrance hall was not what she'd expected.

 

Makoto must have noticed her confusion for she added, “Don't worry, she's not always like that. She's a really nice girl once you get to know her. And since we're on the subject, so am I.”

 

And that's how Rei met Makoto. It didn't take long before they were good friends. Rei had never had a friend like Makoto before. Come to think of it, Rei hadn't really had many friends to being with, but Makoto didn't seem put off at all by Rei's attitude or temper, and Rei found that she liked having Makoto as a friend. As the two girls began their training together they got to know each other better. They told each other everything and learned a lot about the other's culture and family life. For example, Rei now knew that Makoto was an only child and that her mother died when she was very young. Her father was not in the best of health at the moment, but Makoto didn't show her worry if she held any. In fact, Makoto was an all around cheerful type of girl. She was always smiling or laughing and people went out of their way to greet and converse with her. Since Rei and Makoto were always together on the Palace grounds, these people got to know her a little as well, though she did not open up to them as she did with Makoto.

 

“You really should start initiating more conversations, Rei. People are gonna think you're anti-social or something.” Makoto said one day after they'd finished cleaning up following a lengthy practice session. They weren't really walking to any particular destination, just strolling through the Palace. Makoto walked with her hands behind her head while Rei strode beside her with one hand resting against the pommel of her sword, the other swung at her side. The contrast in mannerism they presented was glaring.

 

“And does this discredit me so, that I should be worrying?” Rei asked with a slight smile, looking up at Makoto.

 

“Alright, I admit that there are some that admire you for your dark and mysterious persona.” Makoto smirked and went on, “if only they knew the real you. Dark and mysterious my ass...”

 

“I never gave any indication that I was such. People can assume what they want.”

 

“Some assume we're lovers,” Makoto threw in.

 

Rei laughed shortly. “No offence, Makoto, but you are definitely not my type.”

 

“You have a type?” Makoto asked. “This is new.”

 

Rei thought for a minute. “Yes. It is.”

 

Makoto looked at her sideways then shrugged. “Don't think on it too much, it was just a foolish comment. ”

 

Rei nodded, “That is your territory anyway.”

 

Makoto stopped abruptly and turned on her heal heading in the opposite direction. “That reminds me, there's somewhere I gotta be right now. I'll see ya later, okay.” She waved over her shoulder.

 

Rei's smile stayed as she watched Makoto race off down the corridor and out of sight. Another thing that she'd learned about her friend was that her playful nature and friendly attitude earned her many admirers. Not only that, but Makoto was becoming a beautiful woman and with her strong, athletic build she was quite unique on the Moon. Rei felt a bit sorry for Makoto at times though. Makoto had been in a few relationships this past year, and none had turned out too great, but she never showed any sign of hurt or anger about any of them. Rei couldn't help but wonder why she would keep it up. Maybe she was lonely? She'd been alone for most of her life it seemed. Rei had never seen Makoto in a sad state, and she'd never seen her cry or show any sign of a negative emotion. Makoto was strong, brave, and always in high spirits. She liked to make people happy, and usually succeeded in doing just that. Makoto didn't really pursue others, they usually came to her, and she didn't like to turn them down.

 

Makoto made it very obvious that she preferred female company when it came to her relationships. Rei had nodded when she'd told her this, but she'd never really thought about her own preference before. It wasn't very important to her at the time.

 

Makoto explained one day, “It's simple really. Like choosing whether you want an apple or an orange. There's no big scientific equation to it all and it doesn't take much thought. It's just your own taste that'll decide for you in the end.”

 

“What if you do not know which one you will like though.” Rei had asked nonchalantly.

 

Makoto had grinned. “Then try `em both and find out.” She'd then answered a bit more thoroughly. “Really, I don't detest men. I'm sure some of them are great and all, but women are much better suited for lovemaking,” she'd stated plainly, then went on with more fervor, “men are so numb to everything, but women are just so,” she searched for the words, “sensitive, soft, smooth, warm,...musical,” she laughed, “I mean, tell me the man who could -.” she stopped short, noticing the look Rei was throwing in her direction, “sorry, got a bit carried away. It's just something you'll have to find out for yourself.”

 

“Oh, go ahead and get carried away. I will be staying right here, at a safe distance then.” Rei had laughed when Makoto punched her lightly on the arm. “You have such a one track mind, Makoto.”

 

“Ya know, my elemental instructor told me the same thing the other day.”

 

Rei had to hand it to Makoto, she was really changing from the rowdy girl she'd met a year ago into something more tame and controlled. Her way of talking was still a bit rough, but she now had something more of a regal air about her. She spent much of her time in the practice yards, furthering her training in swordsmanship and fighting. Rei spent only the time required of her at these stations because she didn't care for the physical brawling and much more preferred the mental training their instructors put them through. She showed even better control over her element and they gave no complaints as to her progress.

 

Makoto, however, could not have been more inept in this area. Her element, Thunder, was an incredibly destructible force and required intensive training in its control. She became frustrated at times when she couldn't manipulate it properly and ended up causing more harm to herself than anyone or anything else. Rei was trying to help her with it, but the element was foreign to her so it made the task difficult. Makoto would inevitably have to deal with this problem, but she wasn't showing any signs of doing that just yet, to the displeasure of her mentors. Still, Makoto was becoming a force to be reckoned with when it came down to it. She was much better than Rei in the military arts and could beat Rei in every sparing match they engaged in. If she was lacking in mental strength, then she was overcompensating physically. Makoto threw herself into most everything she did and worked hard. That was the way Makoto was.

 

Rei and Makoto were like two sides of a coin, and they fit together nicely. The best of friends. Rei was content to sit on the sidelines and watch, and Makoto loved to be in the thick of it all. Rei didn't begrudge Makoto her many lovers, and Makoto didn't bother Rei about her reluctance to find one. They were at ease in each others' company and it seemed that nothing could come between the two friends. No, Rei was never envious of anything Makoto possessed. But, as it has been stated in the past,...things change.

 

Continued...