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Chapter 00: Sorrow Foreshadowed

After the battle with Void, all of the Senshi and those who had survived the fight had returned to the Castle. They were all tired and retired to their beds quickly. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep... But there were those who could not stay asleep.

It was late at night, and someone crying out in the night awoke Usagi from her slumber. Sneaking out of bed, she followed the noise, and was followed by Luna, to the bedroom of her friend Minako. After knocking and managing to break the handle off of Minako's door when there is no answer, Usagi was finally asked into the room.

She immediately noticed that Minako looked rather upset, but she claimed to be fine so Usagi left her be and the conversation turned to other things.

Usagi also noticed that Minako had been eating and cheesecake, so of course she asked if there was any more. Minako ended up asking, or rather telling Artemis to go back to the kitchen and try and find some more, since she wanted to be alone with Usagi anyway.

Minako was questioned again with Artemis is gone, and that time she finally broke down, telling Usagi how her fiancé Yahara had gone to his home dimension with his brother. A horrible virus had killed many people there, including Yahara's own father. And it was apparently the work of some evil sorcerer that could only be stopped by war... A war Yahara must participate in. Minako apologized for complaining to Usagi and then got upset, slamming her fist into the wall before her ranting calmed down.

Minako apologized again, obviously feeling she had burdened Usagi in some way. Usagi reassured her that she is more than happy to hear her troubles, and that she and the other senshi will always be there for her no matter what.

Back in the Royal Chamber, Mamoru woke up and became a little worried that Usagi was not beside him in the bed. Knowing the kitchen is where one usually finds Usagi if she has disappeared, he was about to go there, but then he heard someone outside the bedroom door. Cracking it open, he spotted Artemis dragging a cheesecake down the hall toward Minako's room. Grabbing his robe and following the cat stealthily, he listened at the door, hearing Luna already chastising the two women about eating too fast. Reassured that they have someone responsible with them, he went off to the kitchen himself to see if he could find anything good for him to eat.

Meanwhile, Lady Serenity was sneaking out of the Palace. The reason she was leaving was that she was curious about her time as Wicked Lady. She had no memories of it whatsoever, and only knew what she had been told, which wasn't much. After some deliberation, she decided that the best way to uncover the truth was to head down to Alcatraz herself. She packed a few belongings in an overnight bag and headed off to the transport to the Earth's surface.

She was passing her parents chamber when she heard a noise from around the corner. She used invisibility to remain unseen. She inhaled when she saw her father, King Endymion sneak out of the Royal Chambers and quietly walk down the hallway.

He quickly disappeared, though, and she continued her walk to the Shuttle Bay. As she entered the shuttle and toggled the controls that would send her to the Earth's surface she looked back to her home on the moon. She whispered a silent goodbye to everyone there, wishing that she could have said goodbye instead of stealing off into the night. She set a mental reminder to send a note to her parents that she was fine, she just needed some time alone and would return as soon as possible. She sighed and turned to the site of Earth drawing closer and watched as the shuttle descended upon California and Alcatraz loomed into view. She finally reached Earth and, as she stepped out of the shuttle, she felt certain that she would finally find the answers she sought. For better or worse.

Meanwhile, Artemis finally returned to Minako's room with a fresh cheesecake (and a fresh bump on his head that he gained in the process of stealing it). Minako and Usagi both began shoving the cheesecake in their mouths without even thanking him, of course. Luna had remained quiet ever since they got to Minako's room, seeming not to believe she needed interfere, but then she spoke, scolding the two women for eating so untidily and taking such big bites. They paid her very little attention.

They finally finished eating, and Usagi lay back on the bed and sighed, thanking Artemis for the cheesecake and telling him how delicious it was. She then explained to Minako that it was already morning and she had a busy day planned, so she needed to leave. Minako thanked her for listening, saying that it had helped, and Usagi and Luna slipped out into the hall.

After the two left her room and shut the door behind them, Minako's smile instantly faded. She removed the plate from the bed and placed it on the night stand, sending a sideways glance toward the cracked mirror. She sighed dependently and flopped back unto the bed, feeling a little stronger, but still rather languid. She reached over and absent-mindedly scratched Artemis' ears. The white cat purred happily and settled in deeper into his sleep. After a small form of eternity of staring up at the ceiling without any thoughts crossing her mind, she stopped scratching her cat's ears and turned away from him. Then she curled up into a ball and silently cried herself to sleep, hoping Artemis did not hear her.

Out in the hallway, Luna told Usagi that she was going out for a short walk, and would see her later that day, then slipped out a window. Usagi went back into her room, noting Mamoru's absence but not worrying about it, and began to prepare for the day.

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Pages Updated On: 18-Jun-2008 - 09:28:56
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