DISCLAIMER: This story contains characters created by Naoko Takeuchi, which were used without permission.  If I have done anything illegal please inform me.  All other original character's were created by me.   Any likeness to any other fanfiction character is purely coincidental.  If you take any characters without permission you shall be terminated. 
Thank you for your corporation.

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CHAPTER 1:
Once Before Time
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Written by Callisto
Edited by Amanda

he air was heavy; a promise of rain. The jade walls echoed with the constant rumbling that foresaw the battle soon to come. Makoto had been standing in the hallway for several moments staring out the crystal window. What she saw brought tears to her eyes.  She had once seen a beautiful garden full of flowers and merry gardeners through the window. Now all she saw  was dirt and the remains of a maltreated piece of land. She remembered days of her childhood when she would spend hours laughing and playing in that once beautiful garden.   No one had the time for such luxuries anymore; not  since her mother had passed away.  No more. Her own reflection seemed as tired as the garden itself.  Makoto hadn't been sleeping well ever since she heard about Queen Beryl's announced attack.  It was true she had no proof of this announcement, but she had overheard her father discussing it as he slept, as he was oft to do.  As it seemed her days had been numbered, and the day came ever nearer when this castle would be empty.  

   Her gaze still fixed on her own reflection, she noticed another approaching it.  This one tall and thin.  His soft green eyes fixed intently on Makoto.  He appeared even more drained than she, his disheveled white hair adding to the effect.  Hue cleared his throat, quite louder than appropriate, causing Makoto to jump.  With a concerned look in his eyes, Hue wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  She knew why he was here.  Tomorrow he would be leaving. He had called it 'training', but she knew he would be preparing for war.   Her anger swelled up inside her as she balled her hand in a fist.

   Makoto took a step forward, but Hue held her fast.  She didn't turn, didn't want to see the look in his eyes that told her goodbye. He realized this, and spoke, "This is the toughest battle we'll ever have to face. After this, it will all be over." His voice choked on the last few words, as if he himself didn't believe them. "It'll all be over," he repeated, reassuring himself.

    The words cut flames in the sky, they all wanted to believe them. But the strength of the words was lost in the overpowering crush of reality. The kingdom was breaking apart; what had once been harmony was chaos. The same people who'd worked together in the past were now separated. They were making war on each other, murders and suicides becoming all too common. The kingdom was dying. All it needed was one more push, one more battle to plunge the world of light into eternal darkness. *It's better this way,* Makoto thought, *better we end like this, go out fighting. Better than...*

    Hue was still staring at her.  She could feel his gaze fixed intently on her every move, and with every move she made they grew deeper and deeper with concern.  Makoto had always known the soldier's feelings for her, she had felt the same towards him once.  But that was a long time ago, before her mother had passed away. Before her father had gone mad with his loss.  Maybe, if they survived this one, last time, she could be free to have those feelings again.

    Hue shifted uncomfortably.  The noise startled Makoto, and she quickly remembered her manners.  "Would you like me to escort you to the lounge?  Get you a bite to eat?" She did not turn as she said this, did not let her gaze shift from the crystal window and the broken world which it framed.

    Hue shook his head, "We haven't the time."  His voice was full of regret that almost made Makoto feel sorry for the young solider.  Makoto simply nodded, her head craned sullenly at the ground. The floor was covered in dust and gravel, for the servants had long since left, and those who stayed had more important matters to tend to. She averted her eyes to the ceiling,

    "What if we..." she paused, testing the words before she said them, "What if we don't make it?"  The  words 'what if' came out of courtesy, the question she meant to ask was more to the effect of  *what will happen when we're dead?*

    However, Hue did not notice her emphasis. He answered the question asked, leaving the unspoken dangling above his head, like a precariously balanced boulder, afraid that if he uttered the words, they would tumble down and crush him.  "No-" he paused, swallowing hard, "it wouldn't be right, wouldn't be fair." Even as he spoke the words his voice became hallow, meaningless, a lie. And lies were one thing Makoto could not tolerate.

    "And what if we do live?" She spat out the words, her hatred shifting to Hue. "What do we have left to come back to?" She waved her hand out the window, but her eyes failed to follow the gesture. Hue put his hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort her once more. She mistook his compassion for pity. She didn't want his pity. She didn't want anyone's pity. She wanted her life back. It had been five years since the life she had known had been stolen from her. She had died the moment her mother took her last breath. She hated him, blamed Hue for all the ruin of her life.  Makoto tore away from him and started to walk off.

    Stopping, she turned on her heal and looked at him, through him. Her eyes brimmed with hatred still pleading for some kind of reassurance, something to make the icy feeling of helplessness disappear from her mind. Her stare penetrated him; left him speechless. Hue stumbled over the words, "We will win. One way or another." Yet he seemed to be talking more to himself, and left Makoto confused at what he meant. More lies; it's all hopeless. He blinked back the tears that had accumulated in his eyes. With that he bowed, turned, and left.

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