Title: The Grubs are attacking - The Quest part I
Author: Ree
Theme: AU - Astrology
Genre: general with a touch of humor
Version: AU - (manga/Anime)
Rating: G

Takeuchi Naoko created them. I'm just following a different branch on their universal tree.

The Grubs are attacking - The Quest part I

AN: "Hollys" is intentionally mis-spelled.

Usagi leaned down to examine the wilting plant. "It's dying! Why is it dying?!" She turned her attention to the bush that was in a pot right behind the wilting bush. "This one is fine! I planted both Hollys at the same time!" Pushing gently at the wilting ones' branches, she watched the leaves fall to the ground. With a frown marring her generally happy expression, she went in search of her mother, Queen Serenity.

"Mama! There you are." Usagi shut the door of the Queen's study behind her. "Mama... my Holly is dying. I don't know why. Its twin is doing just fine right now, but ... but if its twin passes away, then it might fade as well. " Usagi's eyes shone towards her mother, certain she had the answer.

Serenity set the reports she was holding aside. "Your Hollys? The twins? One is dying?" Usagi nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I shall summon the head gardener to look at it." Her eyes feel onto the report as she pushed her chair away from the desk. 'And maybe that will give me some answers to what is going on with the crops in the rest of the country.'

--

"There is nothing the matter with the soil." A dark haired man looked up from the terrace bed, his hands coated in soil. "And I helped with the planting, so I know it was planted correctly. It and its twin reside in the same soil, and were planted the same." He gestured to the one in the pot before he turned his sorrowful gaze back to the dying bush. Most of its leaves were brown, and its branches were drooping. "It looks like the very life is being sucked out of it, Your Highness."

Serenity studied the small plant. 'That is the same thing the farmers are reporting. Their crops, planted as they have been for ages, are suddenly wilting, as if the life was being sucked out of them, but nothing looks wrong.'

Usagi fell to her knees next to the small plant. "Holly... Holly you can't die! What will your twin do without you? " Tears slipped out of her eyes, raining gently onto the wilting stems.

Serenity placed a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder. "We have asked the expert on plants, now we shall consult the expert on the mystics. I shall call for you when she arrives."

--

A coach pulled up to the palace gates and lowered a step. A lady dressed in a gown as dark as the night, covered in small stars picked out in sliver threads stepped stately out of the coach. As she walked into the castle, her eyes, the purple color seen in the skies at the end of dusk and the beginning of twilight, swept about, taking in everything around her. A page raced ahead, clearing the path before her.

Bowing to the Queen of Hereandnow, another page alerted her of the mystic's arrival. "Your Majesty, Astrologer Rei has arrived."

Serenity swept out of her study, and headed to the throne room. "Alert the Princess of her arrival. She should still be in the garden, on the terrace."

"Very well, You majesty." The page raced away.

--

Rei stood quietly before the throne, her eyes fastened on the princess. 'Can she do it?'

Serenity sat straighter in her throne and looked down at the most powerful astrologer in the entire kingdom. "What can you tell us about the horrible life sucking plight that has struck the plants of our kingdom?"

Rei looked at the queen. She could see the light worry lines that were etched around her eyes. 'And I have to give her more to worry about.' Holding back a sigh, she started her speech. "I have searched the heavens for many nights and this is what they have told me. A Grub has infected the land."

The courtiers blanched, and the queen visibly swayed.

Serenity's voice was almost a whisper. "A Grub?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Usagi glanced from one to the other. 'What is a grub? Why is everyone so scared?'

Serenity steadied herself. "And did your searching give you a way to solve the problem?"

The violet eyes looked into the silver one, asking for forgiveness. "Yes, Your Majesty. The stars have shown that the Princess must make a perilous journey to the Mountain of Knowledge. There she must seek The Sage. The Sage will know how to get rid of the Grub. "

Serenity blanched as white as her hair. "Princess Usagi?"

Rei nodded.

Usagi looked at her mother, and then at the astrologer. "I will save the plants?"

Rei shifted her gaze to her Princess. "Yes, if you can make it. If you do what The Sage says." 'If you can understand what The Sage says.' "It will be dangerous, you could get hurt."

Usagi's face paled as she nodded to show her understanding. "I will consider this." Turning slightly, she faced her mother. "May I retire to my room?"

Serenity nodded. "Think carefully, my daughter. The fate of the kingdom rests on your shoulders."