Based on Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon. Title: Training Camp Author: Daine Artillo E-mail: atia@crosswinds.net Rating: G Chapter III: The Earth Kingdom's Ball Part One "Look, Beryl!" Serena said, carrying a piece of paper over to where the girl was sitting on her bed. Both girls had now been in training for a year, and their bodies had adjusted to the harsh intensity of it with hardened muscles on their arms and legs. "The King is holding a ball. All are allowed to attend." "Oh! That should be fun!" Beryl replied excitedly. "That's not all! It's a *masked* ball. We won't know who we're dancing with!" "Sounds mysterious," Beryl agreed. "We'd better start thinking about what we're going to wear." *~*~*~*~* "Ow! Beryl! That hurts!" Serena yelped as Beryl dragged the stiff bush through her hair. "It wouldn't hurt if you're hair was so tangled. Really, I don't know why you let it get so long. We are in *training*, remember?" "I know, I know." "Why'd you let it grow to such a length? You're the one who's always telling me to 'keep my hair short,' so it wouldn't bother me during training." "I just...like it this long. And besides that, Ms. Training Rules, you know I put my hair up so it won't destract me from fighting." "I know," said Beryl, grinning. "You're just *so* fun to tease!" Beryl dodged as Serena tried to hit her. Unfortunately, she pulled the brush hard through Serena's hair. Beryl thought as she saw Serena's face change into expressions of extreme pain. Despite what had happened, Serena did her best not to scream as loudly as she could. That would bring the whole camp to her room. As her scalp started to fell normal after extensive tingling, she turned to glare at Beryl. "Um...I'm sorry?" Beryl's next response was muffled with the pillow that came in contact with her face. *~*~*~*~* After thirty minutes of extensive brushing, Beryl (carefully) brushed out the rest of Serena's hair. "Well," Beryl asked, "how do you want to put your hair up?" Serena just sat there in slience, thinking. "Hello?" Beryl said, waving a hand in front of her friend's face. Serena jerked back to awareness as Beryl managed to get her attention. "Did you just fly off to the Moon?" Beryl teased. "Wha? Oh, I'll show you later," Serena replied thoughtfully. <"To the Moon." You have no idea how right you are.> "So what were you doing?" "I was just...thinking." "Yeah? About what?" Beryl asked while sitting on Serena's desk chair. Thinking they would talk for a while, she settled herself comfortably in the chair. "Nothing. We'd better get our dresses." "Okay," came the reply. "What are you planning to wear?" "This," Beryl responded, taking a dark green dress out of Serena's closet where she had been keeping it. "That is *so* pretty!" Serena commented, obvious awe in her voice. "Thanks," Beryl replied, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. "What are you wearing?" Serena pulled out the trunk at the end of the bed which held all her belongings. Serena thought, beginning to wade through the many things that the trunk contained. The girl started to throw things out behind her, making not only a mess, but a huge pile of belongings. Beryl thought with an amused grin. "Aha!" a triumphant Serena spoke, while pulling out a white dress. However, her pile of things, now waist length, looked ready to topple over. Beryl glanced over at Serena, who was sitting on the floor, trying to smoother the wrinkles out of her dress. Smiling devilishly, she walked behind Serena and prepared to push the pile over. She hesitated though. It took her a second to make up her mind. Barely touching it, the stack fell over and buried Serena in the midst of it. "Beryl..." came a muffled growl, directed toward the girl. Beryl was on the floor laughing hysterically. "C'mon! Help me out!" Wiping the remaining tears from her eyes, the red-headed girl went over and grabbed Serena's wildly flailing hand. "Thank you, Beryl. My day is never complete until I'm avalanched by my stuff." Ignoring the bland sarcasm, Beryl proceeded to brush her friend off. Turning serious, she looked at her friend. "Please don't get the room messy. Remember the last time you got sentry duty." "I know," Serena groaned. "Now, let me clean this up..." Going over toward the chest, she threw everything into the trunk. Beryl groaned. "So, show me your dress." Serena proudly held up the slightly wrinkled dress. It was ankle-length and pure white with the sleeves elbow length and transparent. "Wow..." came the reply for the speechless Beryl. Serena smiled widely. "Thanks." *~*~*~*~* "No...Beryl, it'd look better this way..." Serena argued, busily fixing her friends hair. "There!" Beryl stood up in the emerald dress. It matched her eyes and brought out the fiery red of her hair. On the back was a slight train that barely dragged on the ground. "Now," Serena instructed. "look at your hair. This style is very popular now-a-day." Glancing in the mirror, Beryl saw her hair let down, looking very full and stylish. In a complicated manner, a string of flowers were braided in her hair. "You look so beautiful, Beryl!" "Don't you think I'm overdressed?" "Of course not! The *King's* going to be there, so we'd better look good. Otherwise he's going to be ashamed to have us as citizens." "Okay, If you're sure... Hey! Why are we talking? We should be getting you ready! Go put on your dress, I want to see what it looks like." Serena picked her dress up off her bed and went behind the screen to change. Coming back out, she stood hesitantly in front of her friend. Her dress flowed around her, as did her golden hair. The pure white of the dress accented her blue eyes. She looked nervous when Beryl said nothing. "I look awful, don't I?" Serena said remorsefully. "*Oh no,* Serena! You look so elegant!" "Do I really?" "Oh yes! The guys won't be able to resist you!" Serena allowed a tiny smile to cross her face. <*That* would be interesting. All the guys I beat in combat would be interested in me?!> "Now, how do you want to do your hair?" "Here, let me show you..." Serena pulled out a worn book, bound in black leather. Although old, it's gold lettering still shone brightly. Sitting on the bed, she began leafing through the pages. Curious, Beryl sat next to her and glanced over Serena's shoulder with surpressed interest. "This," Serena continued speaking, holding up the book, "is what I want to look like." Beryl leaned closely to get a good look at the picture. Seeing it she gasped. A lonely figure stood in the midst of a silvery landscape with one arm stretched out in a manner of imploring. Her hair was arranged in a style of two buns with long silvery trails hanging down. "That girl looks like you!" Beryl said breathlessly. "What is this book called?" "It's a book of legends. This one's about the Moon Princess. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be like her." "I can sure see why! She's beautiful!" "Yes. The book was written by a man who supposedly met the Princess, Serenity, and they fell in love. But since he was from Earth, and she, from the Moon, they couldn't be together." "A case of forbidden love," Beryl sighed romantically. "Yeah," Serena said. "When the people of the Moon found out, and by law, the young couple were banished from seeing each other." "What a sad story," Beryl commented. "Yes, but that's not how it ends. Their love was so strong that they disobeyed their laws and parent's wishes. War broke out among the two planets, but the couple met despite all the fighting and married each other secretly on the Earth. "When the war was over, the couple returned from where they had been hiding on the Earth to rule the Moon. The Moon and Earth agreed to this arrangement as long as one of the children that they raised was sent to Earth to be raised by the barren King and Queen. "They had two children, two girls, and they did send one to Earth. Still bitter about the war and lives lost, the Terran King forbaid contact between the Earth and Moon. "So the Moon people were soon forgotten by the common folk, though they became a powerful kingdom in the solar system, and continued to watch over stubborn Earth. "Happy times reined on Earth as they found a baby boy abondoned on their doorstep. They raised him as their own. To become the heir to the kingdom. "However, these times were not to last, during a ball, the young Princess was kidnapped. When it was discovered, a frantic search began, but the Princess was never recovered. "The end of the book states that one day the Earth and Moon will be united and the lost Princess found again." Serena closed the book and carefully put it away. "Okay, now let's get the work. I want to look like the Moon Princess for tonight." "Sure thing, Serena." After fifteen minutes of trying to figure out how to make the odangos, Beryl put in the last bobby pin, ensuring the buns wouldn't come undone. "We'd better hurry, Serena, or we'll be late." "Gotcha." They both picked up their masks, and headed out the door toward the palace. Beryl's mask was a forest-green color, matching her dress. Serena's was white and had a slight amount of sequence, making it sparkle. Walking the short distance to the palace, they arrived on the steps leading up to the palace. Both gracefully entered the ballroom. The girls looked around in awe at the elaborate setting. Apparently the King had spared no expense in decorating the ballroom. Along the halls were roses of all kinds: white, pink, yellow, and red. Especially red. Serena and Beryl were quite content to stand there and watch the many couples, but before long, Beryl was asked to dance. A slow waltz filled the air as the gentleman led Beryl into the large amount of dance floor. Serena sighed. Despite her slight depression, she brightened at the look of happiness and pleasure spread on her masked face. She became so interested in Beryl's dancing, that she jumped slightly when someone tapped lightly on her shoulder. "May I have this dance?" End of Chapter Three. *~*~*~*~* Author's Notes: Suspense, suspense, suspense. Who wants to dance with Serena? (Kinda obvious, isn't it?) Anyway, that, I'm still trying to decide. ::evil laughter:: So, you the reader is still in suspense. Oh yes, there is some credit due for this part of the story. 1)The scene where Beryl brushed Serena's hair was inspired by a part "A Soul Reclaimed" by Brickgirl. It is a really great story. 2)When Serena clocks Beryl with a pillow, that was inspired by a part in "Guardians of the Star" by Eric den Biesen. Both are really good stories. PLEASE READ THEM! -Daine