Author?s notes and disclaimers at the end. I Love You Like Never Before By Adrian Wednesday, December 16, 1998 The earth floats serenely in the sky. The stars sparkle in the heavens. In the distance, the sounds of battle can be heard. Oblivious to the carnage and distraction surrounding it, a nightingale sings sweetly from the remains of the gardens. A young woman is kneeling amid the ruins of the palace. Her once white gown is torn and dirty. Her golden hair is falling from it?s odangoes. There are streaks on her cheeks where her tears have run down, making a pale contrast with her dusty face. Laying on the ground before her is a man. His face is covered with sweat and blood, but shows no pain despite his grave injuries. He is dead. The woman reaches out and brushes the hair from his eyes. She opens her mouth and begins to sing softly, sadly. "For you, There?ll be no more crying, For you, the sun will be shining, And I feel that when I?m with you, It?s all right, I know it?s right" The tears begin to flow down her cheeks, but her voice remains clear, rivaling that of the nightingale in the ruined garden. "To you, I?ll give the world To you, I?ll never be cold ?Cause I feel that when I?m with you, It?s all right, I know it?s right. And the songbirds are singing, Like they know the score, "And I love you, I love you, I love you" She sees the glint of earthlight on the stained blade of his sword. Lifting it, she raises her head and looks at the stars in the sky. "Like never before." She presses the cold blade into her stomach, slicing cloth and flesh as if they were nothing. The red stain spreads across her stomach, staining her gown, falling and mingling with his blood. She leans over and kisses his cold lips. Her mother watches from the shadows among the fallen columns. She sees her only child lay herself by the body of the dead prince. The aged queen holds the Crystal before her and continues her dying daughter?s song. "And I wish you all the love in the world, But most of all, I wish it from myself. And the songbirds keep singing, Like they know the score, And I love you , I love you, I love you, Like never before." The dying princess runs her hand along her dead love?s cheek one last time, and whispers her final words. "Like never before" The refrain seems to echo in the still night. "Like never before" ============================ Well, that was a little on the depressive side, wasn?t it? I was listening to "Songbird" by Fleetwood Mac as I wrote it. If you have the "Rumors" CD, I suggest you listen to the song as you read the story, it really brings it to life. For anybody reading "Senshi Under Siege" (and because I only got ONE letter, I doubt that you are!) I haven?t forgotten about it, I just hit a major writer?s block with it. Oh, and I?m also writing a story called "Ladies & Gentlemen of the Jury" that?s coming pretty well. Well, I better do the Disclaimers before I forget. Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon in any way. I am making no money off this story. I also do not own "Songbird", which is by Fleetwood Mac. I claim no credit for the lyrics I used in this song. Now, I hope that they are happy. (If they sued me, all they would get is a computer, a TV and a VCR, plus about 20 tapes of Sailor Moon reruns) That?s about all, except for one little thing. DOWN WITH CENSORED SAILOR MOON!! DiC has cut so much out of the first two seasons, and we haven?t even gotten S, Super S or Stars yet! Also, they change the voices so much it drives me crazy!! I don?t mean to complain, it?s better than no Sailor Moon, but I would like to see it all. You don?t even have to translate it, just put the little words at the bottom of the screen. Bring Usagi to the States!! That is all, so I?ll talk to you after my next story?s done -- Adrian