In the bleak midwinter
It's was the third night in a row that her mother's desperate bickering had awakened her. The young girl, barely sixteen, rolled over on her side and rubbed her heavy eyes. She tried not to worry but her nature got the best of her, unlike her mother who was calm and collected in every occasion. So, when the third night came, she began to panic. It was also unlike her mother to be yelling so fiercely; her shrill voice rang through every corridor, room and hall in the palace.
The Princess of Mercury felt a small relief when, very subtly and gently, her maid pulled the silk sheets of the bed over her. Though in the presence of the only human being who had showed her any care, Ami was still ill struck by the terrible cries resounding outside of her door.
"Please Lady, go back to sleep" said the maid quietly from her pitch black corner next to the princess's bed.
The blue haired girl ignored the girl's weak suggestion and simply twisted back facing towards the door. Her mother's cursing made her flinch, she had never heard such words but she knew perfectly well what they meant. Ami wished with all her heart that the man who was receiving such a powerful scolding was her father. She imagined the King standing firmly and quietly while his loyal but brave wife spoke her mind freely. How the princess wished she was like the queen. For a slight moment Ami remembered all the times she walked by a servant and could hear snickering behind her back. They would never take her seriously, no matter how smart or powerful she was.
The sudden curse of a man brought the maiden back to her bed where she was now sitting up and listening intently to the discussion outside. The man, whom she knew well and despised, was now attacking the queen with insolence and rudeness.
"Lady please, do not intrude. These are matters that should not worry nor concern you" again the maid whispered, this time she stepped out a little from her corner until only the hem of her dress was visible in the dim light of a candle.
"He mustn't speak to the Queen like that" Ami replied, obviously referring to her mother. Her voice was fragile and quiet as always but her eyes turned cold and angered as she continued to stare at the door of her room.
With a small click two more maids entered the room from an adjoining door. They both curtsied and proceeded to carefully take the princess's belongings but not so before secretly informing the main maid of their doings. Ami watched as the two servants packed her precious items, too scared to demand why they did so. Gowns, books and gadgets were placed tirelessly into several large travel trunks which had never been used.
"Where are we going?" the princess's faint voice was barely registered by her maid.
The question went ignored as the door was flung open and the Queen, flushed and breathing heavily, entered importantly. The four girls inside bowed their heads and did not look up until she addressed them.
"Is she ready?" the Queen of Mercury demanded. Standing behind her was a man much shorter than she. He lingered nervously behind the taller woman and it was clear he was just as angry as his superior. The two maids bending over the travel trunks resumed their packing while Ami carefully began to slide out of her bed, unsure of what was happening.
The lady's maid was quick to help the princess up and out of the covers. Without asking or receiving approval, the servant began to undress Ami, despite having a male standing in the room. The blue haired girl swiftly grabbed onto her garments and fought to keep them in place. "Mother!" she protested, squirming and red in the face, Ami tried hard to avoid eye contact with the man standing behind the Queen. Luckily he too turned away from the scene.
"This is no time to be modest, we must leave immediately" the Queen replied almost casually as she stepped further into the room waving her hand aggressively towards the maids. The two young women sped up and carelessly dumped items into the trunks unaware that the princess was staring at them in utter shock.
Ami would have broken into an unusual fit and scolded them for treating her precious books and gadgets in that manner but the sudden realization that she was almost half naked struck her. Seeing it was inevitable and that the disgusting man she loathed would not leave, the princess allowed her maid to undress her. Her only reaction was to begin crying out of anger and humiliation. For the first time in her life she looked up at her mother and gave her a reproachful glare, never had she disrespected the Queen in such a way.
"Don't look at me like that!" - the Queen demanded as she walked angrily over to her nude daughter, the lady's maid quickly sidestepped out of the way - "I stayed for you and I've risked everything for you! Unlike your coward father who left us here for dead. You will respect me and do as I say!" the tall woman snapped as she held Ami's jaw firmly in her hand, furthering the young girl's embarrassment.
"How dare you call the King a coward! Such talk is treason!" - the man in the room firmly declared. Clearly frightened he stepped forward into the dim light of the candles hanging from the walls. His old and bitter face made Ami regret having given her mother such a terrible stare. He continued his rambling despite his current position. "His majesty will be back with support from Neptune and when he does..."
"He is not coming back! Do you understand? The King has abandoned the throne of Mercury and it is now bestowed to me and my daughter" the Queen said letting go of her only daughter before approaching the short and old man.
"Treason! Treason!"
"Maiestas! Would you be quiet!" - the tall woman was furious and moving slowly away and towards the largest of the windows in the room - "Why are you still alive, if not for me? That man, his majesty, left you here to die with the rest of us and now...your loyalty is to me" the Queen menaced as her fingers lingered on the fabric of the curtains.
The scene had caused Ami to completely forget she had been naked and was now clothed in the gown she usually would have worn on a special occasion. Her maid had disappeared back into her dark corner and the two other servants were standing awkwardly next to the trunks, their heads bowed and arms behind their backs. The princess was silent and tried hard not make a sound as she shifted closer towards her the mother who was now gently pulling the curtains apart in a threatening manner. Maiestas, the King's second and most loyal servant, looked petrified as he pleaded.
"The King will come back, he has said so in many letters. The threat has not reached the palace, there is still time"
The two maids standing by the trunks gasped before they began to scatter away towards the adjoining door from which they had entered. This sudden movement annoyed the Queen terribly "Go! Get out! Your services are no longer required, go where you please and say what you must of what you've heard today. Go!" she screamed at the two frightened girls who quickly left in tears.
"Saeko! The people cannot know the King is gone! They certainly cannot know you plan to leave them!" Maiestas protested, he made a move to go and detain the maids but was stopped by Ami's shrill voice.
"How dare you speak to my mother this way! Who do you think you are?". The princess had never heard anyone call her mother by her first name, not even by her father. The fact that this man was speaking so freely to the monarch terrified the young girl. Though lacking experience, Ami knew perfectly well something awful was about to happen.
"Look! Look outside! We won't make it past the night!" the Queen ignored her daughter's outburst and pulled the curtains wide open to reveal something everyone expected except for Ami. "I've already ordered for the ship to leave as soon as YOU give the soldiers the signal. I can do that myself if you refuse to leave with us. Do you understand?" the woman was now towering over the terrified man.
"Then...I will give the signal, your Majesty" Maiestas whispered before bowing and immediately leaving the room.
Saeko heaved in a long breath and than swiftly turned towards her daughter "You, girl, get someone to take these trunks to the dock, a ship will be waiting there. Go!" she demanded from the maid hiding in the corner. The girl revealed herself, curtsied and ran off as quickly as possible. Finally, the room was left alone for mother and daughter who both stood awkwardly.
"What's happening?" Ami asked as she stared out the window, her mouth ajar from what she was witnessing.
"You know perfectly well. We are no longer welcome on our planet and staying will only mean our death. A guard will be waiting for you just outside the door. Take your cloak and anything the servants forgot to pack. Don't make me wait" the Queen ordered coldly.
"Where are we going?" the princess asked quietly.
Saeko sighed again, clearly disapproving the answer "To the Moon Kingdom. I've already notified Queen Serenity and she has kindly agreed to receive us" she answered flatly.
"Why wouldn't she?" Ami dared to ask, her back still turned towards her mother.
"That is not important. Be kind and respectful to the Queen and her daughter. I will see you on the ship. You may join me in the great cabin" Saeko said with no hint of kindness in her voice.
"What about my father?" - the blue haired girl was slightly fiercer with this question, she waited for an answer but was only met with silence - "Mother?" she turned and barely got a glimpse of her mother's gown leave the room before the door was slammed shut. Ami shivered and rubbed her arms, the room was silent except for the billowing coming from outside. It was much too cold even for midwinter.
She looked through the window again; past the garden and large fountain which was now frozen. Several guards were filing out towards the entrance of the palace where the gates were being fortified. From where she stood she could see thousands of people holding torches crossing the moat which was also frozen. Ami had never seen so many plebs near the palace, in fact, she had never visited any of the surrounding towns or settlements of Mercury. She felt terrible watching the people of her planet flee from the dark shadow crawling over them. She wondered how long it would take the Dark Kingdom to engulf her home. The princess felt a little sad she would never get to explore the planet and regretted having always felt too nervous to leave the palace, at least for a day. The books she read had always been her only source to the world outside.
A small knock on the door indicated that the guard outside was ready to take her away. Suddenly realizing her situation Ami began to feel extremely anxious about her upcoming trip and change in life.
"A moment please!" the princess cried out with a shaky voice. She looked around trying to find anything else she could take with her, trying to stall and control her nerves. Ami could not think of a single thing except for her cloak which was laying on the large desk next to the window. Trying to breathe despite the cold and her numbing anxiousness, the young girl took the garment and placed it over her arm. The candles in the room were now almost extinguished and slowly but surely the moment to leave crept over Ami chillingly. A second knock on the door was imminent. Taking one last look at her bed and out the window, she finally stepped out of the room.
"Forgive me" the princess said quietly to the guard standing outside. Her face was red with embarrassment as the large man barely looked over at her.
"Put the cloak on" the guard ordered rudely and indifferent to the fact that he was in the presence of royalty.
Ami did as she was told, placing the hood of the garment over her head to disguise her face. When this was done the guard immediately began walking down the corridor expecting the young girl to follow him which she did. Load cries and shattering of glass echoed along the dark corridor. The once tranquil palace was now a total chaos; the unused rooms were being burglarized by the people who had once served the monarchs. The servants were taking down silk curtains from the beds and using them to pile up gold and silver objects, relics and anything of value they could find. The blue haired girl stopped in front of one of the rooms to stare and a rising anger attacked her.
"Arrest them! They are stealing from the palace!" Ami demanded from the guard. The man stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. He stared at the girl with fury in his eyes. He approached her menacingly taking quick steps and grabbed her arm in a tight grip. The guard looked over at the room they were standing next to and than back at the princess. In one swift move he yanked her away and practically dragged her along the corridor.
"You're hurting me! Let go! The Queen will not appreciate this!" the princess fought to free herself from the painful grasp around her arm.
The guard stopped again but did not hesitate to immediately push Ami back and into the wall. He pressed his arm firmly against her chest and in an instant pulled out his sword, the blade inches away from the girl's neck. "I am not loyal to you or the Queen, do you understand? I could kill you right now and no one would touch me, do you understand, you stupid little girl?" - the man's face was almost pressed against Ami's as he threatened her - "I could slit your throat right here, do you know what they would do?" - he directed himself towards the rooms - "Nothing. They would take the clothes off your back and go get drunk, and I'm only talking about the women. The men...they would devour your dead body" he whispered evilly.
"Please...don't..." the princess pleaded. Tears were pouring down her face as she tried hard to move away from the cold blade pressed against her neck.
The guard pressed his knee between her legs "That's right, beg for your life you traitor. You and that snake you call a mother deserve to die. I should kill you but I won't" - he took his leg away and lessened his grip against the girl - "Unlike you I am still loyal to the King and to Mercury. You are his majesty's daughter and for Him and Him only I'll spare your life. You and your mother leave now and never come back, do you understand?" he growled lowering his sword.
Ami was too terrified to speak so she simply nodded between sobs. When he wouldn't let go she turned her head and looked straight into his crazed eyes and nodded again.
Satisfied with the gesture, the guard let go "Come on, the ship is about to leave" he demanded before slightly tugging the princess forward. The man continued casually down the corridor while the young girl walked in shock behind him. They rounded the corner and arrived to the service entrance which lead down to the kitchens and scullery. Two guards were standing next to the gate. They looked at Ami hungrily but calmed themselves when the guard "protecting" her flashed his blade at them. The two men stepped aside and let them pass, they stared daggers at the girl as she brushed past them.
The service entrance led to a stairwell surrounded by stone and the occasional sconce supporting a torch. The guard was now almost running down the steps, leaving Ami to try to catch up through the narrow and spiraling stairs. She reached the landing where the guard was waiting for her.
"Run as quickly as you can through the kitchen and then through the scullery. Next to the storage shelves there's a door, go through it and there will be a coach waiting to take you to the dock" the man said quickly before putting himself behind the girl.
"Where will you be?" the blue haired girl asked with tremor.
"I'll be behind you. Run!" he cried before opening the door to the kitchens and pushing Ami forward. It took her a moment to begin her dash as the heat of the stoves and baking attacked her face. With a hard jab to the back Ami was off.
As the princess flew through the kitchens she barely got glimpses of servants drinking all the wine and fighting over precious items they intended to take. She could hear the guard's armor bounce behind her as she avoided flailing fists and drunken sloppiness. It took at least ten rows of three tables across to finally make it to the end and adjoining door leading to the scullery. Ami stopped but was pushed forward by the guard, luckily the door was slightly open so she was instantly inside. Much to her surprise the long room was empty. As she ran slower than before past the work tables she noticed coppers filled with boiling water. It took her a moment to realize how strange this was but it was too late.
One of the containers fell in front of her and though she continued to run she slipped on the searing water. Thankfully the cloak Ami wore protected her from the bubbling liquid as she landed on her back. Unfortunately she also landed on her unprotected right hand which upon contact with the water was instantly scorched. She screamed in pain, feeling her hand on fire, and lifted it towards her chest.
"Run!" cried the guard as he lifted the fallen girl from the water and pushed her towards the storage shelves where, as he had said, there was a door.
Tears burning her eyes and slightly limping from her fall Ami ran as quickly as she could towards the destination. She could hear the guard fighting with someone else behind her but she tried to ignore it. She could also hear a few more coppers falling at her heels, the boiling water burning the hem of her cloak. Her undamaged hand reached out towards the door handle, she twisted it and found it wouldn't open. Her heart sank to her stomach as she turned to meet an unknown guard in front of her. He smiled evilly and grabbed her burnt hand, twisting it as Ami fell to her knees in pain.
"Your head is worth more than this palace, silly girl" the man chuckled enjoying the agonizing cries coming from the princess. His grin slowly turned to a worried frown as a blue light blinded him. As she cried and moaned the symbol of Mercury glowed powerfully from Ami's forehead, filling the area around her with a beautiful light. The guard let go and backed away in shame and fright. With the threat gone, the glow began to dim down until it was no more. The princess looked up at the man, his eyes were filled with terror as he looked down at her, egging himself away from her. Without warning a blade was thrust through his neck, spraying the young girl with blood. The man, eyes wide open and in shock, fell to his knees and collapsed in front of Ami, blood instantly creating a pool around him. Too overwhelmed to react, the young girl simply looked up to see her savior.
"Get up and leave! Now!" the guard protecting her demanded angrily as he looked down at her, he fiercely pulled his blade out of the man's neck. Half his face was red and oozing pus, clearly he had been attacked with boiling water. Ami quickly glanced back and discovered two dead guards behind her. Before she could even fulling turn back she was being pulled up again by her guard.
"It's...it's locked..." the young girl said gently as she stood up and held her pain filled hand.
The guard groaned and tried to open the door but failed. He looked around anxiously for something to use against it. Seeing no other object he bent over and heaved the dead man on the floor onto his back. The guard took a few steps back, adjusted the corpse until it was slightly hanging off his shoulder, and ran into the door using the body as protection. The impact was successful as the door flew off it's hinges and straight out into the cold where it fell abruptly against the snow. The guard dumped the body and returned heaving inside.
"Get out!" the man ordered furiously. He looked away and carefully touched his burnt face which clearly pained him terribly.
"I...I...I don't know...thank you...thank you so much!" Ami cried completely overwhelmed by his generous act.
"Get out!"
The princess moved towards the man and tried to take his hand "Please...come with me. You'll be safe. Please!" she begged.
The guard pulled away from her touch and turned to look at her in the same way he had in the corridor "Don't make me regret not killing you! Get out!" he roared before pushing her out the room and into the snow where her face landed.
Ami looked up from her cushioned landing and only barely recognized she was out in the stables and just a few feet away from where the servants slept. For a moment her searing hand was relieved by the snow under it but the pain returned quickly. The only light came from the scullery behind her. She looked back into the opening of the room but obviously the guard was gone. Aware of how alone and in danger she was, the princess quietly stood up and looked around for her ride to the ship. The only sounds she could hear were the horses moving around in the stables and the slight screaming and laughing of the servants in the kitchens. For a moment she heard a soft cough nearby; she slowly turned to her left where she was met by a small man who swiftly placed a large straw bag over her.
"Let go! Leave me alone!" Ami screamed mercilessly as she was thrown to the ground and lifted by her feet. Another pair of hands grabbed her under the arms and heaved her up. The small man and unknown person carried the girl away and placed her onto a boarded platform, all the while she continued yelling and protesting against her kidnappers.
"Please Lady, be still and be quiet. We're taking you to the ship" a woman whispered against the bag. The princess recognized the voice, it was her maid who had tended to her since she could remember. Feeling slightly calmer and relaxed, Ami quieted down and tried to stop her body from trembling. It was obvious she had been placed in a cart filled with hay when the vehicle began to move unsteadily away.
The girl trapped in a bag fought against screaming out as her hand throbbed with pain, the bumpy road made it impossible to protect the wounded area. Her heart raced as the sounds from outside made her stomach ache, the fact that she could not even see what was going on made it harder to contain herself. The palace which had always been so peaceful was now filled with screams and hysterical laughter. Clearly the dark energy consuming the planet had drained itself into it's inhabitants. Despite being shy and unsocial Ami knew perfectly well that her race were serious and educated people. She thought of the guard who saved her life and why he did so. The sudden flashback of everything that had happened that night made her break into tears. Luckily the wooden cart made so much noise that her sobs went unnoticed. After what felt like days the road smoothed out and the cart slowed down until it came to a complete stop. Realizing only a few minutes had passed the princess wiped her eyes and tried hard to compose herself.
"We're here. Are you sure you won't go?" the small man from before asked. His voice was kind and tired. Ami wondered why she had never met him, especially since he was appointed the task of taking her to safety.
"No. I can't leave my family. This is my home, not the Moon. What will I do there?" the lady's maid said slightly chuckling, indifferent to whether the princess heard her or not. The cart creaked under the weight and the two loyal servants jumped off. Ami could hear their steps against the snow approach her. Carefully they untied the straw bag and slid it off of her.
"Please Lady, hurry" the maid said to the princess as she held out her hand. The young girl took it and climbed out of the cart. She looked around and saw they were in a deserted valley leading to a small coast where the ship wavered against the almost frozen sea.
"Thank you" Ami said mechanically as she was led by the two servants towards the vessel. As they neared the water, half a dozen soldiers came running towards them. The young girl flinched but a gentle squeeze from her maid reassured her. As the uniformed men arrived they nodded and were handed over the princess. Unlike her previous protector, these men treated her kindly and with respect.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Ami cried back to the two servants as she was being led away towards the ship.
"Good luck!" the maid dared to reply. She giggled and wiped a tear from her eye as she watched the girl she had cared for leave forever.
The blue haired girl blushed and smiled weakly. It was just now she realized how much that woman had cared for her and how much she would miss her. Sighing with sadness and relief she walked in toe with the six soldiers surrounding her. They made it to the dock and led her across a board to the ship. The three masts of the vessel were tense against the wind as the structure rocked against the waves. Waiting with a smirk on his face was Maiestas. He looked at her and almost doubled over. His smiling face turned into a shocked frown.
"My Lady...you arrived. We were...worried, the ship was about to leave..." the bitter man stuttered as he bowed nervously.
"Where is my mother?" Ami asked tiredly as she stepped importantly in front of the man.
"She's waiting for you...in the great cabin" Maiestas replied offering a fake smile, he presented his hand to lead the way.
The princess of Mercury looked out towards the palace which was still in plain sight. Metalia's dark energy was already reaching the moat surrounding her home. The towers of the grand residence were already crumbling down as the servants destroyed them and set them on fire. She could only feel sorry for the three people who had rescued her and were left to survive the ruin. Ami looked up at the moon shining down at her, she sighed and wondered deeply what it would be like living there.
"Lady?" Maiestas asked sounding a little annoyed, his hand still offered.
The young girl nodded and followed him to some stairs leading down to a steel door. He took out a large key and upon opening it led her into a very large and elegant cabin. He bowed still wearing his silly smile and left her immediately. The room took up almost half the ship; a long table stood in the middle and was surrounded by many bookcases and antique gadgets. To the right was a thin partition which led to another part of the room. Ami ignored the fancy food on the table, despite feeling hungry, and walked into the other half of the cabin. Sitting expectantly next to a large bed was her mother, her face was practically hidden by a book. The woman looked over at her daughter and gasped.
"What happened to you? Where were you?" Saeko was honestly surprised to see Ami soaked in blood and dirt. She got up and gently pulled her daughter towards the bed.
"I don't know..." the princess murmured before beginning to sob. She presented her wounded hand trying to pass off her crying as physical pain and not emotional. Her mother examined it carefully.
"You were burned? In the scullery?" the Queen asked knowingly.
"Yes. How did you...?"
Saeko shook her head "It does not matter. Let me take care of it" she said warmly before getting up and reaching for a silver box on one of the shelves in the bedroom. She took out a vial and a long piece of gauze.
"I'm sorry I took so long..." Ami whispered feeling uncomfortable by her mother's closeness.
"That does not matter either. You are here and safe" the Queen said as she cleaned her daughter's hand with the liquid from the small bottle. The young girl was hardly surprised to find that the medicine worked instantly; her mother was widely known for her healing abilities. The older woman carefully bandaged the hand and procured it was placed neatly and perfectly.
"Thank you..." Ami said gratefully. Realizing how many times she had said that in such a short time made her feel useless and depressed. With an abrupt jolt the ship shifted and began to hover with difficulty.
Saeko smiled and cupped her daughter's face gently. Her thumb trailed soothingly against the dried up blood on Ami's cheek. Such affection from her mother made the princess's heart begin to race tremendously; nothing that had happened that day made her feel so alive or excited, not even death. For a moment she even expected to receive an approving hug or at least a nod.
"Go have a bath, you're filthy. Your trunks are in the cabinet next to the washroom. Change before we arrive, you cannot be seen like this on the Moon" the Queen ordered coldly as she removed her hand and wiped it against a handkerchief she took out of the silver box.
Ami would have reacted terribly had she been raised differently or received affection from her father. Instead she got up, nodded and locked herself inside the washroom. Taking a cloth she began to rub the red stains off of her face. A faint recalling made her touch her forehead slowly. The princess rubbed the area and wondered what had frightened the guard so much back in the scullery. Between the pain in her hand and feeling terrified the only recollection she had was of a bright blue light reflecting against the man's blade. Putting the confusion aside Ami continued to clean her dirty face. She remembered how nervous she felt just thinking about traveling to the Moon Kingdom. It made her laugh.
Princess Serenity rolled over again in her bed trying to wrap the sheets tighter around herself. She couldn't remember the last time she slept so badly. Since midnight the room began to grow colder and colder until it was freezing. During the night two maids had gone into the room to light the unused fireplace and to place extra blankets over Usagi. She had never experienced such a chilly climate on the Moon. Twice she had gotten up to look out her window and find the kingdom covered in a snow storm, even the sea lining the palace was frozen a month too early. In her sixteen years of life she had never seen such a thing. The Princess sighed knowing dawn was nearing and she only had a few hours left in her comfortable bed. A light knocking at her door annoyed her even more, thinking it was one of the maids again.
"Usagi-chan? Are you awake?" came a quiet but cheerful voice from the adjoining room.
The pig tailed girl sat up "Minako-chan? Yes, come in!" she responded a little too loudly.
With a soft click the Princess of Venus entered and scurried towards the four poster bed. She opened the curtains and let herself in "I'm sorry to come so early but it's freezing. Is it always like this on the Moon?" she asked crawling under the four blankets on the bed.
"No! I haven't been able to sleep because of the cold! It's never been like this!" Usagi wailed.
"I've never seen snow before!" - Minako cried excitedly under the covers - "On Venus it's always spring! Maybe we can go outside tomorrow?" she asked between giggles.
"Shh...we'll wake my mother! If it's not too cold we should go outside! Maybe go skating on the Mare? No?" the Princess suggested.
"Alright, I'll try!" Minako continued to chuckle against the blankets.
A soft knock on the main door quieted the two blondes instantly. Scared but excited they shrugged their shoulders at each other and tried hard not to burst into laughter.
"Usagi? I'm coming in" the Queen's voice was gentle but stern.
"Hide! Hide!" the Princess demanded red in the face from giggling.
The princess of Venus gave her friend a courtesy look around before covering her head completely under the blankets. She tried to control her chuckling as the door of the room opened and shut. The Queen walked seriously over to the bed where she opened the curtains on her daughter's side. She sat down and rolled her eyes at the blonde red in the face with laughter.
"Lady Minako, I know you are here too. You can come out" Serenity said kindly.
Minako slowly slid the covers down and gave the Queen an innocent smile which was returned. "I'm sorry, I was just too cold in my room" the young girl said embarrassed.
"It's alright. It's good that you are here, I need to speak to both of you" the woman said sounding not so friendly.
"Can we go skating tomorrow? The Mare is almost frozen!" Usagi jumped in ignoring her mother's sudden change in tone. Minako was not so daft and immediately noticed; she poked her friend's ribs under the covers and received an angry glare.
"Usagi please pay attention! This is very important" - the Queen gave her daughter a look she knew would scare her - "We are having two very esteemed visitors arriving this morning. I'll need you two to be polite with them, they've had a long and difficult trip. Look presentable and act kindly and with respect" she said gravely.
Minako nodded earnestly while Usagi frowned "We haven't slept all night! We wanted to play in the snow!" she protested.
Serenity gave her that look again "Don't fool around with me..." she threatened.
The pig tailed girl nodded and smiled "No mother. We'll be ready and like able as you asked" she said feeling a little frightened.
"Alright. I'll see you two tomorrow. Try and get some sleep" the Queen said as she got up and left the curtained bed. It took a few moments before the door closed.
"Who do you think is coming?" Minako was quick to ask after it was safe to talk again.
"Mmm...I don't know. Maybe it's your parents! Do you think?" Usagi dared to say.
The blonde beside her shook her head "I don't think so...they're not coming back. Maybe it's another princess?" she said excitedly but mostly trying to change the subject.
"But maybe it is! Maybe my mother didn't say anything or who is coming because she wanted to surprise you! They could have come back from Uranus, no?"
"No. They won't come back. I trust Artemis and he was right when he decided we needed to leave. I think they stayed there" Minako said trying to sound relieved but secretly feeling the urge to cry after thinking about their abandonment.
"Don't you miss them?"
"Not really. Back on Venus I got to do whatever I wanted, even though Artemis was always bothering me" Minako tried to show off.
"I don't know...I like being with my mother. She always spoils me..." Usagi said before yawning and stretching.
"I'm tired, let's try to sleep" Minako groaned sounding annoyed. She turned on her side and fought hard to drown out her sobs against the pillow. It had been three months already since her parents, the King and Queen of Venus, had left her so suddenly and hurriedly. They were loving and caring but they were never around. This suited the princess most of the time as long as they returned to shower her with presents and encouraging love. But when two months had passed since they departed to Uranus and never showed up her guardian, Artemis, was firm to inform they would not come back.
"Goodnight" Usagi said nonchalantly before immediately beginning to snore.
Minako bit her lip as she remembered how terrible it had been to leave her planet. When the servants and plebs noticed their queen and king were gone they started to panic. First came the wave of crime in the towns aligning the palace and it's estates. Then came the stealing from the people working inside the palace. Finally, when the soldiers would not obey orders, Artemis determined it was time to leave the planet and retire safely to the Moon Kingdom where they would be welcomed warmly. Minako was happy to be there and have a new friend but she missed her room and her palace. As for her parents, she wasn't sure how she felt and if she would truly be happy if they came back.
She imagined a scenario where tomorrow she would meet a new princess and possibly new friend and it felt exciting. Then she imagined seeing her parents looking casually at her as though nothing had happened while in her heart she felt furious and ignored.
"I'll wear my yellow gown" the blonde said to herself deciding it was a better fit for meeting a new friend.
This is a new story I've just begun to write and hopefully it will be enjoyed. Warning is on a temporary Hiatus while fellow writer sexipistol is writing the surprise ending. (and I approve it). This story is mainly about Ami and Makoto, their relationship on the Moon and problems facing them. Minako and Rei will also be a couple and Usagi and Mamoru will also appear. It is based on the Silver Millennium but with a slight dystopian feel.
The fall of Mars and Jupiter are coming up while Venus's will slowly unravel in the next few chapters.
Hope you enjoy it, please review!