"Princess Minako," the servant's voice was muffled from behind the closed door, "they are waiting for you downstairs."
"I'll be there soon," she said scowling, "just like I said ten minutes ago."
"That is, ah, I believe the problem," he said. Minako could just imagine him wringing his hands and shuffling his feet. "Your mother believes that ten minutes is more than enough extra time."
"I'm coming," she snapped. She looked once more at the mirror, biting her lip as she saw the red dress and the bow in her hair. Princess Minako was not vain, but she knew herself to be beautiful. She only wished her mother did not know the same thing, for she did rather enjoy showing off her daughter at these parties and Queen Serenity herself was downstairs! She would do almost anything to be somewhere else but she knew her mother would not relent, not give up the chance to have the great and the good fawning over her daughter and, as a result, over herself.
When she finally opened the door the corridor outside was empty, the only sounds the faint music coming from the great hall downstairs. Taking a deep breath, she headed towards it, listening as the strings swelled around her, hesitating once more only at the top of the stairs. The moment she moved through into the hall the music stopped and the announcement was made, "Crown Princess Minako of Venus," the voice echoed through the hall as a lone Viola began to play. She moved gracefully down the stairs as she had been taught, her eyes roaming the room above her fake smile, seeking out familiar faces. She could see the royals of the other planets; Mercury, Jupiter and Mars (her mother would never lower herself so far as to invite the outer royalty), but her eyes were instinctively drawn towards the silver haired figure of Queen Serenity, whose blue eyes sparkled with genuine warmth as Minako's foot finally left the staircase.
"Minako you join us at last!" Queen Indira's voice rang gaily through the hall as the music started in full once more, "do come here." Minako kept her head bowed as she moved over to her mother. She smiled, nodded, accepted the praise from her mothers equals, but at all times she kept glancing across the room to the ever watchful eyes of Queen Serenity which never seemed to leave her even as the night wore on. She was subjected to tiresome dance after tiresome dance, each partner more frightfully boring than the last, everyone of them selected by her mother for political gain. Minako wished Sailor Ishtar had been invited, but their guardian senshi was almost certainly busy somewhere anyway. She was never invited Minako thought sadly. It had long since transpired that guardian senshi was just not good enough to please Queen Indira. Minako had come to look up to the strong warrior, but she hadn't seen her in many weeks now. She wished she knew where she had gone.
It was nearly midnight before Minako finally escaped the dance floor, heading out onto the balcony for the pleasure of fresh air and the cold breeze. "Princess Minako," the voice was soft and gentle as it acknowledged her presence. Minako jumped and whirled around, bowing low before Queen Serenity. "Do not bother yourself with such formality; it is only you and I here." Minako straightened to see that the Queen was right. "You do not enjoy it?" she asked, her eyes twinkling and Minako knew what she meant instantly.
"Of course I do," she lied instantly, not wanting to offend her mother or sully her kingdom's honour. Serenity merely laughed.
"My own daughter is exactly the same," she said, looking out over the gardens, "she would much rather be playing amongst the roses than socialising with politicians and royals. The two of you would get on very well, I believe."
"I would be honoured to meet Princess Serenity some day," Minako said truthfully, somewhat transfixed by the Queen.
"Then it shall be arranged," she turned to look at Minako, "I shall speak with your mother about it now."
"Thank you!" Minako said, the first genuine smile spreading across her face.
"There it is," Serenity said.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand…"
"I had heard you were beautiful," Serenity replied smiling, "and your smile is truly miraculous." She left without saying another word, leaving Minako blushing deeply. She barely had two minutes peace before her mother rushed out to speak with her.
"Minako, Queen Serenity has requested that you travel back to the moon with her!" Minako's heart leapt, "this is such an opportunity for you; you'll meet the future ruler of the Silver Alliance, so make sure you pack appropriately. I hear they have balls nightly on the moon, so we'll have to have some of your dresses refitted."
"But isn't the Queen leaving in the morning?"
"Oh of course. What you have will just have to do I suppose," Indira continued in this same vein for more than a little while before remembering that she was the hostess of a party. Minako took that moment to slip away to her chambers and to bed, knowing that her mother would want to pack her bags for her anyway.
"Welcome, Minako, to the Moon," Queen Serenity opened the door of the carriage and watched as the Venusian princess stepped onto the foreign soil, her eyes like saucers. "I will have your bags sent to your room. I believe Serenity is in the rose garden – why don't you go explore?" Minako nodded eagerly and then glanced down at her skirts, knowing they were not entirely suitable for running through the gardens. "Or alternately you could come to the palace with me and change? Princess Rei was here only the other week and left some of her clothes behind; I am sure she would not be averse to you borrowing them if you have nothing suitable. I would offer my dear Serenity's wardrobe, but perhaps you would prefer to meet her in clothes that do not belong to her?"
"Thank you very much," Minako bowed her head, astounded once more by the warmth in Serenity's voice. Only fifteen minutes later she was wearing trousers (trousers!) and wandering through the gardens, searching for the distinctive splash of red that would indicate a rose garden. She found it soon enough and there, sure enough, was Princess Serenity. She sat on the ground, leaning against a bench in clothing not dissimilar to that Minako had borrowed. She jumped at the sound of Minako's approached and leapt to her feet, relaxing when she saw who it was.
"I thought you were Luna," she said scowling as she sank onto the bench, "I'm supposed to be in lessons. Who are you anyway?"
"My name is Minako," she said, blinking a little at the straightforward approach of the blond girl.
"Of Venus? I always wanted to go there, but Mama said the parties are even more dull than those we have here."
"She actually said that?" Minako giggled.
"She says things like that all the time," Serenity nodded, "I think she only really enjoys the balls on Mars, but even I like those. Have you ever been?"
"No," Minako shook her head, "this is my first time off Venus, actually."
"Really?" Serenity seemed completely agog, "I've been all over. I love Mars, and the flowers on Jupiter are amazing. I've never been to Mercury, but Neptune has fantastic music – Princess Michiru plays the violin so well," Minako sat down beside the babbling Princess and listened, absorbing every fact she could about the life on the other planets of the alliance and wishing with all her heart that she did not have to go home at some point. "Of course I'd love to see Earth, I've heard that it's really beautiful down there…" she fell silent for the first time and Minako took the chance to ask a question.
"But Earth isn't part of the alliance – isn't it forbidden to contact anyone down there?"
"Oh of course it is," Serenity giggled, "but doesn't that just add to the romance of the idea? For a Princess of Venus you don't have a particularly strong sense of adventure," she stuck out a tongue, "Come on, I bet Mama's waiting on us for dinner or something. She's usually waiting on me for something."
"Dinner?" Minako asked confused, "it's barely midday."
"We have dinner at Midday," Serenity smiled, "and then a lighter meal in the evening. Mama says its so that she can go to a ball without being ravenous. They never have anything but canapés."
"You'll come back soon, Minako, won't you?"
"I will, I promise," she nodded as she climbed into the carriage, "It's been amazing here."
"Better than on Venus?" Serenity grinned.
"Miles better," Minako nodded firmly, "I wish I didn't have to leave."
"You planetary princesses are all the same," she giggled, "well, except Rei. She can never wait to leave," she rolled her eyes as Minako closed the door and peered out, waving at her friend as the carriage pulled onto the star paths, heading directly for Venus. The journey was not particularly long, but it should have taken an hour at least. To Minako the time flew by and all to soon she was heading through the gates to Magellan castle.
"Minako dearest," Indira gushed, "do come inside, we need to have you fitted for a new dress for tonight's ball…" that was one thing Minako had not missed. For the entire duration of her stay upon the moon she had not been made to attend a single ball, spending those nights upstairs with Serenity instead, telling each other made up stories about life on Earth. During her stay she had discovered that part of her which was missing; the desire to do more, a sense of adventure.
She stood idly as she was measured for a new dress, didn't really concentrate on the colours that were shown to her (resorting to choosing one at random) and all in all daydreamed her way through the day, already looking ahead to the next time she was on the moon. She knew there would be another time, Both the Queen and the Princess had been adamant upon this fact. She hungrily ate her light lunch only to find herself wishing for more, used to the heavy midday meal after a month on the moon. Knowing that she would get no more she headed to the library, a place she had before avoided at all costs, and headed to a small rarely visited corner in which all the Venusian literature about the planet Earth was stored. She read, completely engrossed, for the whole afternoon, only stopping when she glanced at a clock and realised that if she did not get a move on she would be in the perfect position for Indira to aid her in preparing for the ball. She ran up to her chambers and locked the door behind her. As she had expected the dress was there waiting for her, the skirt of orange chiffon taking up too much space for her liking. Sighing with resignation she began to change. She was only just getting started upon her make up, however, when a knock sounded at the door.
"I'm not ready yet," she shouted, scowling.
"Minako," she was surprised to hear Indira's voice and turned, for a moment contemplating unlocking the door before shrugging and deciding against it. "Minako, please come quickly. Queen Serenity has sent for you."
"What?" Minako squeaked, jumping up and throwing the door open, her eyes wide with shock.
"She sent word moments ago that you are to return to the moon without delay. She said not to bother packing." This struck Minako as odd; clearly Serenity did not expect her to be there long. "There is a carriage waiting," Indira said as she walked with her daughter, "and it will remain on the moon to bring you back when your meeting with the Queen is concluded." Minako nodded numbly, trying to work out what could possibly be so important that Serenity had called for her so soon. She bit her lip the whole way there, glancing at the passing stars and wishing she had some (any) idea what to expect when she reached her destination. She descended from the carriage, holding her skirt above her ankles as she raced down the oddly deserted path to the doors of the palace. Once inside she passed many people rushing about, talking quickly, there eyes full of what Minako suspected was fear. She finally met someone she knew in the form of Luna, Princess Serenity's tutor.
"Minako at last," she sighed, reaching forward and taking her arm. Minako noticed that Luna was not turned out as well as usual, her purple hair drawn back into a hasty ponytail, her usual yellow dress replaced by a simple top and trousers, "the Queen isn't in the throne room, she's in her chambers. Come quickly." Minako allowed herself to be lead up numerous flights of stairs and into a crystalline corridor she had never before seen. "In there," Luna said, nodding a head towards the door at the end of the corridor, "I'm sorry I can't stay, I have to go find Serenity. That girl just can't stay still!"
"Try the rose garden," Minako suggested, getting the feeling that whatever Luna needed Serenity for it was more important than her tutor remaining oblivious to her hideout.
"Thank you," Luna nodded before turning and running down the corridor. She had changed into a cat before she was out of sight, leaping nimbly forward far faster than she could have as a human. Minako turned and headed to the door at the end of the corridor, hesitating only a second before knocking.
"Enter," the voice was tired, drawn, not at all like the voice that had said goodbye to her in the throne room only that morning. Minako pushed the door open and stepped inside, careful not to close her skirt in as she shut it behind her. "Minako, thank goodness," Serenity stood and Minako saw that it was not just Luna who was not as swell spruces as usual. Serenity's hair was loose and her dress not the usual pure white but a simple green summer dress. "Please sit, this will be hard to take in, I believe."
Minako found her heart rate increasing and took a seat across the small table from the Queen. "Earlier today," Serenity began, "barely two hours ago in fact, Sailor Ishtar was killed…"
"Killed?" Minako clapped a hand to her mouth and felt tears sting her eyes.
"Yes," Serenity sighed, "we had sent her and her fellows to Earth to aid the King and Queen quell an uprising. We were so close to integrating them into the alliance," she blinked and Minako thought she saw tears shining in her eyes. "But the senshi have been there for a few months now, fighting constantly and today Sailor Ishtar was confronted with the leader of the rebellion himself. I'm afraid she never stood a chance."
"But what has this got to do with me?" Minako sniffed, wiping her eyes with the heel of her palm. She had greatly respected Ishtar, but she didn't see why that would merit Serenity passing the news onto her in person.
"I have spoken with Sailor Pluto," Serenity sighed and Minako gasped. Sailor Pluto was thought to be nothing more than legend in most of the Alliance, a mysterious guardian of the space-time doorway and the only planetary senshi to emerge in thousands of years of prosperity in the Milky Way. "As is her duty she looked to the time stream and told me who had the power to inherit Ishtar's responsibilities."
"But…"
"Minako, she named you." There was no reply. Minako blinked stupidly for a moment as the words wormed their way inside her mind.
"But I'm not a senshi," she said at last, "how can I take over?"
"Because you are a senshi," Serenity replied, standing and moving to a vanity table by the bed across the room.
"I have no henshin pen," she said, shaking her head, "the senshi are always born with a henshin pen."
"Not always," Serenity shook her head. "In most cases, yes they are, but there is one senshi whose wand was given to her when her destiny was revealed. There will yet be eight more, although it is unlikely I shall see more than one more in my lifetime." She turned, carrying a box of red velvet. She set it down on the table and opened the lid, reaching in and taking out a pen of gold and topaz before setting it down and sliding it across the table to Minako. The planetary symbol of Venus glimmered in the light emitted by the crystal walls. "Take this, your symbol of office, and return home. This is not a decision to be made lightly. You may talk this over with whoever you wish, but make sure that if you choose to use the pen it is truly the decision you want. Once you are Sailor Venus there will be no going back."
"Minako darling," Indira gasped as Minako entered the great hall, "whatever are you doing here?" she glanced around at the shocked faces of various important visitors. Minako's face was pale, the little make up she was wearing smudged by the tears running down her cheeks. Indira moved forward and placed an arm around her daughters neck, steering her into a side room. "Did you have to walk into the ball?" she hissed, "that is all they will talk about now!"
"I doubt it," Minako sniffed, "Ishtar's dead."
"Well I know that," Indira waved an arm to indicate brushing it to the side, "is that all this is about? Was that why Serenity sent for you? What stories did you bore the Queen with? Really Minako she was just a senshi. Serenity will find a replacement and things will go on as they always have before."
"But…"
"No buts. I insist you go clean yourself up this instant and come to what's left of the ball." Minako's hand tightened upon the pen in her hand, seeing red over her mother's indifference.
"I respected Ishtar," she said, her voice harsher than usual.
"That as it may be it was Serenity's silly fault for sending aid to the barbarian planet."
"Earth is not a barbarian planet!" Minako said outraged, "they're just as cultured as we are."
"Then why were the senshi required there at all?" Indira said, raising an eyebrow, "that is the last I want to hear of this." She stood and swept from the room to rejoin the ball. Minako jumped and ran after her.
"Why won't you listen to me?"
"Really Minako this is not acceptable in public, please return to your chambers." Indira's eyes flashed as her guests turned to face them.
"No! I won't return to my chambers until you answer me!"
"Very well. Ishtar and her comrades left to fight a foolish was that was not their own. She deserved what she got." The words hit Minako like a physical blow.
"What if it were me?" she asked, her voice higher than usual, "would I have deserved what I got?"
"Don't be so stupid. You are no senshi."
"Aren't I?"
"I would know you silly little girl," Indira strode forward and slapped Minako, causing her guests to gasp and take a step back. The harsh clap echoed through the hall.
"Of course," Minako laughed bitterly, "I forgot you knew everything mother," she found herself longing for the understanding relationship that Princess Serenity shared with her mother. "I plan on moving out," she said, "Serenity has offered me a room in the moon palace."
"I forbid it. You are not even sixteen and would only be a burden upon the Queen."
"It is not your place to forbid. The Queen herself asked that I should stay if I chose to take up my new duties, and I choose to do just that."
"New duties?" Indira scoffed, "now you play maid to that useless moon princess." The guests were truly uncomfortable now. Seeing their host argue with her daughter was one thing, listening to her insult the rulers of the alliance was another.
"No! She is not useless and I will protect her," she took a deep breath and held the pen high above her head, "Venus power, make up!" The power surged through her, warming her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. It felt as though little stars of energy were hitting her skin, each one bringing more power than the one before it until, at last, they were gone. She stood proud in her fuku surveying the stunned crowd before turning to her mother. "I will take all my belongings with me. I have no intention of returning."
Another project that I probably don't have time for, but one I've been meaning to start for a little while now so taa daa :) Who next?