Based on the universe created by Naoko Takeuchi.

Title:  Training Camp
Author: Daine Artillo
E-mail: atia@crosswinds.net
Rating: G

Chapter Two: Beryl

"Trainees *up*!"

Zoicite's voice could be heard throughout the camp.

Serena tried to block out the voice by putting the 
pillow over her head.  Just as she was drifting off 
to sleep...

"C'mon, Serena!  Get UP!"  Zoicite's voice said 
loudly through the door.  "You'll never be a soldier 
if you can't wake up on time!"

"Coming, coming..."  Serena mumbled.

"Yeah, Wallflower,"  a new voice said.

<What a pest, that Endymion!>

Nevertheless, Serena hurried to get dressed.  
Tugging on her boots, she ran out the door trying 
to make up for the time lost sleeping in.  
Hurrying to the training field, she collided 
with another person.

"I'm so sorry!"  Serena gasped.

"It's okay, it's my fault too,"  a redheaded girl 
mumbled.

"LET'S GO!!!"  Zoicite yelled, almost behind the 
two.  Both jumped up like startled rabbits and ran 
top speed toward the training field.

"Women..."  Zoicite groaned.

<Serena may be a good fighter, but she's going to 
need discipline.>  He watched the girls slow down and 
begin talking.  <A LOT of discipline.>  He thought
with an inward groan as he went to pester them to the 
battle field.

*~*~*~*~*

"Okay, trainees,"  Kunzite loudly spoke to the 
crowd.  The group, previously talking amongst 
themselves, hushed.

"Today, we're going to pair you up again."

<Yeah!  Now I can beat Endymion again!> Serena 
thought happily.

"However, unlike yesterday, we will pair you up 
with people who need improvement.  While fighting 
yesterday, we observed your skills and think that 
the partners you will have today will be extremely 
helpful."

<Guess I won't get to teach the Prince a lesson 
again today.>  Serena thought glumly.  She glanced 
over at Endymion who smirked at her.  In response, 
she stuck her tongue out at him.

<If not Endy, who'm I paired with?>

Almost answering her question, Kunzite said loudly,  
"Serena and...Beryl."

Looking for her fighting companion, a pretty 
girl with her medium-length redish-brown hair 
pulled back into a French braid, walked shyly 
up to the platform.  She reached out a hand to 
get two of the wooden training swords.  Her green 
eyes sparkled with excitement, but they also showed 
nervousness.  

<I've already heard about Serena.  She beat Prince 
Endymion, the best trainee here!  Ohhhh, I hope she's 
nice.>

Turning around, Beryl saw a girl with short blond 
hair walk up behind her.

"Hi!"  Serena said brightly.  She accompanied her 
words with a big smile.  "We seem to have bumped into 
each other before, quite literally too!"

Her comment was rewarded with a smile.

"C'mon, we'd better get training before Kunzite," 
Serena rolled her eyes, "gets on our case."

Beryl responded with a slight giggle.

Taking her sword from Beryl, Serena motioned for 
the girl to follow her toward an empty area in the 
training camp.  Zoicite watched the two girls claim 
a small area of the training field for their practicing.  

He smiled at Serena's easy-going manner to the 
obviously nervous Beryl.  <Not only is she going 
to turn out an excellent soldier,> he thought to 
himself, <she also appears to be a decent person 
as well.>  The smile stayed on his face.  <Beryl will 
probably improve greatly during this session.  He 
turned to walk around the training field to make 
sure all the trainees were getting their training 
done.

Serena turned and accepted the wooden practice 
sword that Beryl offered her.  "Okay," the golden 
haired girl said, "first of all, you need to.."  
Serena began to teach Beryl some basic points of 
sword fighting.  Her new companion didn't seem to 
know how to handle the sword at all.  She also 
seemed unhappy having to train.  Serena noticed 
immediately, but decided to question her later.

Despite her lack of skill, Serena was a patient 
teacher.  Slowly both got through the training 
session.

*~*~*~*~*

"Boy!  Are my muscles *sore*!"  Beryl complained, 
as she sat in the steaming pool.  Both Serena and 
Beryl had had a full day of training, and both were
equally sore.  

Despite the day's busy events, both had managed 
to find time to go soak in the hot tubs 
that the camp had.  The tubs themselves had been 
so crowded that Serena and Beryl had to wait until 
later that night to go pay a visit.

"I know,"  Serena groaned.  "Who ever thought 
training could be so strenuous?"

At the mention of training, Beryl sighed softly.  
Serena was sure it was supposed to go unheard, but 
felt sympathy for her newly found friend.

"You seem sad whenever we mention camp."

Beryl face showed hurt when Serena mentioned the fact.

"My father sent me.  He-he always wanted a son, a-at 
least I think so.  I don't think he ever intended to 
let it show.  But, it's hard not to notice when he 
always treats me like a boy!"

Serena winced in the pain in Beryl's words.  It was 
clear the pain that her friend felt.

Beryl looked down so Serena couldn't see the tears 
forming in her eyes.

"I think he sent me here hoping I'd become a tomboy, or 
at least someone who can fight as a soldier in battle..."  
Beryl stopped because she could not speak without her 
voice wavering.  In the midst of trying to control her 
emotions, she felt someone put an arm around her
shoulders.

Serena hugged Beryl tightly, trying to relieve her 
friend of all the hurt she had felt for so many years.  
Beryl started to sob loudly.

"Shhhh it's okay,"  Serena said gently, trying to 
soothe her.  "You have me now.  I promise to never 
treat you like that.  You are my best friend, I
like you just like you are, not because you're a tomboy.

Beryl continued to cry until her sobbing slowly 
quieted, then stopped.

"We'd better get out, or we'll look like prunes!"  
Serena stated seriously.  Beryl started to laugh at 
Serena's mock seriousness.

"You're right.  We'd better go in."

Gathering their things, they headed toward their rooms.

"Where's your room, Beryl?"

"Right...here!"  Beryl said gesturing toward a door.

"You're next to me!"

"Really?  Wow!"

"That's probably why I bumped into you this morning."

"Yeah," Beryl agreed.  "I usually get up real early, 
but I was up late worrying, so I didn't get much 
sleep."

"Well, you're certainly not like me.  It seems I 
always sleep late."  Serena said sheephisly, 
remembering the morning.

"I could wake you up."  Beryl offered.

"Great!  Knock on my door...like this,"  Serena said, 
knocking on her door in a rhythm.  "That way, I'll 
know it's you."

"Okay.  I'll wake you up tomorrow." Beryl promised.

"Please do, I don't want Zoicite yelling at me again!"

Both giggled at the thought of Zoicite red in 
the face, yelling at them to hurry up.  The giggling 
continued as they headed into their respective rooms.

End of Chapter Two.

*~*~*~*~*

Author's Notes:

Ahahahahah... revisions galore!  If they're just 
revisions, why am I laughing you ask?  Um, good 
question.  ^_^;;

I still hope you enjoyed the story!

-Daine