Dark Kingdom Transgressions - Part 01 Fallen

Queen Lydia eyed her daughter critically, verifying that every button was buttoned and every fold on her forest green satin gown was placed just right. Finally she stated, “You will do.”

Princess Beryl sighed with relief, but her mother wasn\'t done.

“This is *your* birthday party and many important people will be here to look at *you*. Don’t do *anything* to embarrass your father or me. Especially do *not* get into any fights or ruin your dress. If you do, I will make you extremely sorry. Understand?”

Princess Beryl nodded and silently sighed again.

********


“Well, bless you, Dearie! You’ve become the spitting image of your mother when she was…”

Beryl absently nodded as the old woman standing in front of her continued to drone on. The party had already started but Beryl hadn’t yet spotted Endymion or his four friends. [He better not have found a way to get out of coming here!] she peevishly thought. Beryl glanced down at herself and mentally counted all the things she had endured so he would notice her. [A pretty, but hot and heavy dress that set off her pale complexion, a constant pinch in her side that was the price of her dress being tight enough to emphasize her nicely developing figure and lastly, a wealth of glowing red ringlets cascading down her back that had been set with dozens of small wooden rollers, causing her a long, painful sleepless night and stiff neck.] Knowing she was the prettiest girl there made it all worth it though - as long as Endymion showed up.

The old woman finally left only to be replaced by a couple of wide eyed little girls who adoringly reached out to touch Beryl’s dress with sticky hands. Swishing her skirt away, Beryl hissed, “Don’t touch me, you little brats! You’ll get my dress dirty!” At this, the children quickly scampered away and Beryl finally spied the prince she had been impatiently waiting for. As she began to make her way through the crowd towards the five boys, Beryl couldn’t help noticing that every young female there had turned to look at the Earth’s prince and his four guards. She had to admit, the guys did make an impressive entrance.

********


Prince Endymion, flanked by Prince Kunzite and Prince Nephrite, with Prince Zoisite and Prince Jadeite following, had entered the Palace gates of the Northern Kingdom.

At almost sixteen years old, Kunzite’s muscles had started to fill out and they hinted at the impressive man he would soon become. However, he hadn’t quite outgrown the gangly arms-and-legs-too-long stage.

Prince Nephrite, who’d turn fifteen next month, wasn’t quite as tall or muscular as Kunzite, yet. His long wavy chestnut hair and European dark looks contrasted nicely with Kunzite’s coloring and the two of them made a pleasant background for Endymion.

Endymion, who would turn fifteen in three months, wasn’t as tall as either Kunzite or Nephrite, but for the most part adolescence was treating him well. He had managed to avoid the awkward body appendages stage and his raven hair, spirited dark blue eyes and cocky smile carried the rest.

At fourteen and a half, Zoisite was still slender to the point of being willowy in spite of his strength having increased substantially.

Jadeite, having turned thirteen only two months previously, still had his young boy sweet looks. It was a continuing aggravation to him that he was the youngest in the group.

As Beryl was moving towards the group of guys, both Kunzite and Nephrite jabbed Endymion with their elbows. They whispered, “Hey-hey, Endy…look what’s heading this way just for you!”

Endymion, who still wasn’t completely convinced that liking girls was a good thing, flushed bright red and tried to unobtrusively push his two tormenters away.

Beryl finally reached them. “Welcome, Prince Endymion, Prince Kunzite, Prince Nephrite, Prince Zoisite and Prince Jadeite, I’m so glad you could come to my party.”

Endymion stood there silently and looked like he wanted to bolt. Nephrite finally said, “Thank you very much Princess Beryl for inviting us.”

Beryl smiled as she linked arms with Endymion. “We have refreshments this way. Please follow me.”

Four young men rolled their eyes as they followed the Princess and their reluctant Prince.

********


A few of the party games planned for the children were sedate relays. Endymion had found them to be quite boring and wasn’t paying attention.

Prince Nephrite’s twin sister, Princess Nisha, had finished her turn and exuberantly hurried to the back of the line. Turning her head to answer a question from Princess Reianne, Nisha caught the toe of her sandal on a small tuft of grass and pitched forward into Prince Endymion. Belatedly he tried to catch her and they ended up on the ground with Nisha on top and their arms around each other.

Nisha looked up into Endymion’s surprised, deep blue eyes so close to her. Her brown eyes widened and she blushed bright red as she scrambled to get off of him. Nephrite helped his sister up and Zoisite gave Endymion a hand. Of course, the kids laughed at what had happened and more than one had teased them about it.

Beryl had seen the whole thing and she wondered if Nisha had fallen on purpose. Later, Beryl saw Endymion and Nisha talking together and decided that Nisha *must* have done it on purpose. Beryl definitely didn’t like the way Nisha was blushing so prettily and that they were laughing together. Endymion was *hers*!

After lunch and cake, an orchestra began to play. As the adults also joined in to dance, the party became a little less structured.

Beryl danced a few dances to get her mother’s eyes off of her then looked around for Nisha. She had decided they needed to have a private talk. Beryl found Nisha admiring the flowers and the garden fountain. Beryl offered, “There’s a very pretty waterfall just off the trail behind the palace property. If you’d like, I can show it to you.”

Nisha smiled and said she’d love to see it, so Beryl quickly led her off the property and into the woods. The bushes pulled at their hair and dresses and Nisha worried, “Maybe we should go back.”

Beryl stopped, pointed ahead and said, “The waterfall is just over there past this tree. You can go first.”

Nisha didn’t think much of it as she moved to step past Beryl. Suddenly, Beryl grabbed Nisha’s arm and spun her around. Nisha gasped with surprise and her wide eyes asked what was going on.

Letting go of Nisha, Beryl explained, “No one will bother us here and we need to have a talk.” She then crossed her arms and glared as she stated, “Endymion is mine and I want you to stay away from him. If you don’t, I will make you extremely sorry. Understand?”

Nisha sputtered with anger at Beryl’s blatant threat. “Has Endymion *asked* you to be his girlfriend?” she demanded.

“No,” Beryl replied then quickly added, “but he will so you’d better just stay out of my way.”

With a derisive, “Hmph,” Nisha noted, “If you’re so sure he’ll ask you, then why are you worried about me? If Endymion wants a girlfriend he’ll pick who he wants.”

Nisha then tried to move past Beryl on the trail so she could go back to the palace. She had decided that seeing the waterfall wasn’t worth staying there any longer.

When Beryl realized Nisha meant to leave, she got angry. Nisha hadn’t agreed to her demand and as far as Beryl was concerned, they weren’t leaving until she did. Beryl reached out and pushed hard against Nisha’s shoulders to stop her from leaving.

Nisha’s sandals didn’t offer her much support again and she stumbled over a tree root in the trail behind her. Instinctively she put her arm back to catch herself then cried out when her hand contacted the hard dirt. They both heard the loud snap her wrist had made.

Nisha cradled her arm as she carefully sat up. She gasped, “What did you do to my arm? I think you broke it!”

Panicked, Beryl exclaimed, “No I didn’t! You fell!”

Nisha accused, “You *pushed* me!” Carefully protecting her arm, Nisha tried to stand up then abruptly sat back down with a yelp. Tears filled her eyes and coursed down her face as she realized her ankle was twisted.

“No I *DIDN’T*!” Beryl screamed. She had noted Nisha’s struggle and added, “Promise to stay away from Endymion and to say you fell or I’ll leave you out here all alone with the *wolves*!”

Nisha looked down and sobbed in pain and frustration as she realized her dilemma. Finally she gulped out, “I…I p-promise.”

Beryl turned to leave and Nisha panicked. She wailed, “Wait! Don’t *leave* me! I promised!”

Turning back around, Beryl scornfully answered, “I *heard* you and you’d *better* keep your word. I can’t carry you so I’ll have to go get help. Don’t move from the trail or else you really will be lost.” She then turned again and left.

Nisha hugged her arm protectively as she continued to cry. She tried to keep worry from overwhelming her. She didn’t want to trust Beryl after what had happened, but Nisha had no choice. She wept and prayed as she waited.

After what had seemed like two lifetimes but was actually only twenty minutes, Nisha heard people calling her. “Here I am!” she choked out.

Her father and brother, being led by Beryl, came down the trail. Seeing Nisha on the ground they rushed to her as she whimpered with relief.

King Savaric carefully examined his daughter’s wrist and she cried out. He asked, “What happened?

Nisha quietly answered, “I…I f-fell and hurt…m-my wrist and ankle.”

Her father explained, “Well, your wrist looks broken and swollen. We’ll need to get you back to the palace and set it.” King Savaric then carefully wrapped Nisha in a blanket he had brought and picked her up. With frustration and fear evident in his voice, he asked, “What ever possessed you to go to the waterfall? You shouldn’t have left the property without asking permission!”

Nisha sobbed harder and buried her face deep into her father’s comforting chest. She didn’t answer him.

When they returned to the palace everyone was anxiously waiting. Queen Julianna, who was Nisha’s mother, King Fredrick and Queen Lydia all rushed up and worriedly asked, “Is she all right?”

Shaking his head, King Savaric responded, “Her wrist is probably broken.”

Murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd as Nisha was carried away to the palace. Her mother hurried after them.

Queen Lydia then turned and noticed Beryl’s torn and dirty dress. She frowned as she scolded, “Look at you! Why didn’t you come to us right away instead of following her into the woods?”

Tears filled Beryl’s eyes as she remembered her mother’s threat that morning. From past experience Beryl knew *exactly* how sorry her mother could make her. She looked down and whimpered, “When I told her about the waterfall and she insisted on going, I was afraid to leave her alone. I’m sorry, Mother. I tried to think of what was best.”

King Fredrick put his arm around his daughter to hug and comfort her. He looked up at his wife and implored, “Lydia, it’s only a dress. I can get both of you fifty more just like it. Please don’t be angry about it. Beryl saved Princess Nisha’s life.”

Queen Lydia hesitated then capitulated with an aggravated sigh. “Fine then. At least go get changed, Beryl.”

Beryl nodded and quickly went to the palace.

********

A few hours later Princess Nisha walked into the large dining room leaning on her father’s arm. She looked pale and tired and her arm was bandaged up and supported in a sling. She quietly sat beside her parents for the meal then retired for the night.

********


The evening air was balmy against Endymion’s cheek as he wandered the garden paths. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like the explanation of what had happened with Nisha and Beryl wasn’t the entire story. A hand gently touching his shoulder startled him. Beryl quietly asked, “What’s on your mind, Endymion?”

He didn’t answer her. Instead he reached out and grabbed Beryl’s shoulders to force her to look up at him. His eyes hardened into two dark, glittering chips of sapphire. Tightening his grip he harshly demanded, “What *really* happened in the woods today, Beryl? Tell me!”

Beryl’s eyes widened with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to accost her like this. Her bottom lip trembled and tears pooled, threatening to spill down her face as she frantically tried to think of what to say.

Endymion saw Beryl’s expression and began to wonder if maybe what she had said *was* the whole truth of the matter, and he had no right to be suspicious.

“Okay,” Beryl finally whispered.

Endymion looked shocked for a moment then sighed. “Good.” He let go of her and pointed to a bench on the path. He offered, “Let’s sit.”

Beryl quietly sat looking at her hands in her lap. Endymion waited patiently, giving her all the time she needed. Finally, without looking up she admitted, “We had a fight. A fight about…you.”

Endymion looked up quickly and croaked, “Me?!”

Beryl nodded. “Yes. Nisha had asked if I could show her around the palace grounds. I mentioned the waterfall to her and she asked to see it. While on the trail, she stopped and said she wanted me to stop hanging around you. That she wanted to be your girlfriend. I refused. She got angry and pushed me down. When I got up, she reached to grab me and I pushed her back. She tripped over a tree root and put her hand back to catch herself. There was a snap and she started to cry. I tried to help but she had also twisted her ankle so I had to get someone. I felt bad she was hurt because I pushed her so I only said we were going to the waterfall and that she had fallen.”

Beryl looked up and tears were streaming down her face. After a tearful hiccup she concluded, “I couldn’t say we were fighting. She was already in so much pain and I didn’t want her to get in trouble too. I’m really sorry. I just didn’t see what else I could do.” She implored, “Please, you won’t tell anyone, will you?”

Endymion looked away. He was both embarrassed and amazed as he thought, [I can’t believe they were fighting about *ME*!] He sighed as he realized he’d have probably lied in that situation too.

Endymion now felt really bad about making Beryl cry. He was wondering if he could do or say anything to make her feel better when he realized he was grasping a rose in his right hand. How on earth had *that* happened? He hadn’t consciously thought to pull the rose, it just happened. Endymion had only ever pulled roses to practice throwing them and he couldn’t figure out why he had pulled this one. His powers were still new enough to sometimes surprise him.

When Endymion lifted his hand and looked at the deep crimson flower, Beryl saw it. Her eyes widened and she asked, “Is that…one of your special roses…like your father’s white ones?”

Endymion mutely nodded then impulsively held it out to Beryl with a shy smile.

Looking up, Beryl whispered, “For…for me?” Endymion again nodded.

Beryl blushed as she gently took the flower. She cupped it in her hands as if she was holding a goblet of rare wine. Lifting it up, Beryl held it to her face and smelled it deeply. Its scent was sweet, full and exotic and she realized she had smelled the scent before. It had always been a subtle part of what Endymion smelled like.

Watching Beryl as she held his rose to her lips and drank in its scent made Endymion feel strange - kind of an excited anticipation but also a little nervous, shy, happy and embarrassed all at once. Endymion had never felt so many emotions at the same time. When Beryl opened her eyes and looked up at him over the flower, he noticed that her eyes had flecks of red and gold mixed in with the orange color. He decided her eyes were very beautiful.

Beryl lowered the flower and clutched it to her breast. Endymion’s eyes had followed the movement. Suddenly, Beryl leaned forward and softly pressed her lips to Endymion’s. He was so surprised he stared at her and didn’t move. After lingering a moment Beryl released his lips and sat back. She whispered, “Thank you, for giving me the very best birthday present of all.”

Endymion looked down and blushed. Just as he was starting to think about trying another kiss they heard their friends calling them.

They looked at each other then quickly jumped up and hurried towards the voices.

Endymion and Beryl came around a bend in the garden path together and Zoisite spotted them first. He exclaimed, “Hey, there you are! We’ve been looking all over! Where’ve you been? Both your parents have been asking for you!”

As the group walked back to the palace and talked, Kunzite looked at Endymion and noted his preoccupied expression. Kunzite then noticed Beryl’s blush. When he caught sight of the rose in Beryl’s hand, he quickly put it all together. Grinning, Kunzite nudged Nephrite and subtly pointed to the rose. Nephrite raised his eyebrow questioningly then smirked when Kunzite nodded. The two of them caught Endymion’s eye, gave him a sly thumbs up and winked.

Endymion glared back at them then quickly looked down to hide his embarrassed and crimson face. The two older friends burst out laughing at his reaction and it didn’t help poor Endymion that the others kept asking Kunzite and Nephrite what was so funny. Endymion decided that if they said *anything* he was going to use every ounce of power he had to murder them.

Continued...

Thank you for reading my story. I hope you are enjoying it. If you did like my story, or if you have any (kind and gently worded) suggestions/comments about my story, please let me know. I truly appreciate feedback. You can email me at ndeblock@att.net .

This story was edited and enhanced by the great minds and imaginations of my three wonderful betas, Sophia Prester, Yumeko & Loki. Their help and ideas have been of great value to me! Each is also a fabulous Sailor Moon fanfic author. Sophia Prester’s and Yumeko’s stories can be found on Fanfic.net with an author’s name search (Yumeko\'s author\'s name is Heavely Pearl). Loki’s work is on AriasInk.com. I highly recommend reading all of their stories. ^_^

Bye, Luna Hope

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, her lover, her friends, her family and her enemies all don’t belong to me. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I just borrowed them for a little bit of fun. All original characters in this story do belong to me. ^_^