Liberation
Chapter One:
A Past Forgotten
__________________________12 Years Before________________________________
When the Earth is as silent as the moon
and our oppressors smell the oncoming doom
our liberation will reach us soon
and all will be as it was
When the Earth is quieted for future's sake
The old will rise and again awake
and the new queen will rectify the olds mtake
And we all will sing again
When the Earth shines with an icy light
An overlooked child will find her might
And along the side of a savior, will fight
To bring about our Liberation
When the Cleanser comes to set us free
From Pluto on to Mercury
our oppressors will hide themselves and flee
For she will save a Past Forgotten
"Say it again Nanny!" A little gypsy girl whispered with glee as her cart entered the town of Amoray in Venus.
" I cannot Catalina," her young nurse whispered. "We are entering the city."
" At least say the one about Venus, about how it looks." The little girl pleaded her dark eyes and hair shining in the bright Venusian sunlight.
Her nursemaid sighed; the child needed to her these poems, these versus. One day, when she learned the truth about her destiny she would know that she knew it along. Nanny cleared her throat and began with another poem.
Venus
How I wish for your arms around me Venus
For your whispers in my ear
to take away my longing dreams
to take away my fear
How I wish for your breath to caress me Venus
the smell of peach trees in the breeze
the way these plants fill our land with flowers
and fill our senses with ease
How I wish for your clouds to be under me, Venus
Like soft ground beneath my feet
Each sky city like a paradise
with gold paved in the streets
How I wish to smell your flowers again, Venus
The orange hibiscus blooming bright
the peach tree blossoms perfuming the air
and glowing in darkest night
How I wish to see your streams again, Venus
To see heavenly waterfalls
as to the uninhabited ground pure water descends
as it cleanses the castle walls
How I wish to see your sunrise again, Venus
The Orange sky shining bright in the morn
and then turning a brilliant aqua blue
surprising us as though we hadn't been warned
How I wish to see your Moonlight again Venus
The Moon Kingdom reflecting in your springs
as the night sky turns a deep dark black
and the nightingale begins to sing
How I wish to be your child again Venus
so you can comfort me as I cry
for you and for my long lost past
and the Kingdoms for which I died
"Is it really all true?" The little gypsy girl asked playing with her checkered skirts and bracelets around her wrists. "Is it true about the princesses and the moon Kingdom and that they died to save us all?"
"Shhh!" Her nanny hissed, "the Emperor's soldiers. They mustn't hear you talking like this!" A group of steel-clad soldiers looked at the wandering troop with disgust. That was no surprise however, they all seemed to have an extreme hate for the gypsy nomads.
"Well if it's the truth why won't they tell anyone?" Catalina asked as she always did.
"Because if everyone knew and awakened the magic and the creatures of old then the Emperor would loose his power." The little girls Nanny said quietly.
The little girls eyes shined. "Oh how I do love an intrigue! Tell me about Mercury, it's my favorite."
"As it should be," her Nanny beamed. "You area special child Catalina. You're ancestors originated from Mercury. From the capital city of Victoria." She began to speak of Mercury.
Mercury
Listen to the whispering wind
telling the story of a planet gone
Speaking to you of Mercury
and the dance to its endless song
The cities above and below the water
of purest white, silver and gold
palaces of ivory gleaming with light
filled with stories of old
Listen to the willow trees
the only trees who cry
they grew upon my Mercury
but weren't the only ones to die
The Turquoise grass they grew upon
did not live to tell the tale
of a planet of millions of lakes and rivers
flooding every hill and dale
Listen to the aqua lilies
so white upon the water
lift your ear to the lilies of the valley
who cry for the loss of their daughters
The underwater ocean city
is the only ocean to exist
Her name, it was Natalia
and she was more beautiful than a kiss
Listen to Natalia
the summer home of my family
the crystal pearl and gold palace is gone
destroyed, by those who wouldn't see
Remember the voice of Victoria
the city that I called home
filled with the beautiful water gardens
behind the ivory palace that I'd once known
Listen to the beautiful and changeable sky
blue as the water below
turning black when the sun would die
and the silver stars began to glow
Listen to this child of yours
can you see my oldest dream
my dream to see you once again
and to love you as you loved me
Catalina smiled with utter delight. "So its all real. When are we going to Mercury?" Catalina asked.
"As soon as we leave this place," her Nanny said uneasily watching as a group of soldiers began to follow them. "I have one last poem for you my dear." She said quickly as the soldiers advanced. "Remember you are special my child, remember your family is extraordinary. Do not be shocked if your future is aligned with those greater than all of us put together. Remember what I have taught you about our planets, our past."
Singing A Song
I Sing of song of planets
of shining spheres in darkness far
I sing a song of a Millennium
as bright and silver as a star
I sing a song of loveliness
and a memory that will never die
I sing a song of senshi
and the homes for which they cried
I sing a song of Venus
a planet full of love
a shining orange ball of light
flying up above
I sing a song of the happiness
that Minako Aino knew
of the joy with which she shared her planets love
in every thing she'd do
I sing a song of Jupiter
of thunder in the sky
a stormy world of dancing clouds
flying over free and high
I sing a song of the strength
that Kino Makoto showed
of a brave and worthy people
and the honor with which they flowed
I sing song of the planet Mars
of incense in the breeze
and the shining glaring desert,
that looked like sandy seas
I sing a song of the aura
that Hino Rei radiated
and the race of mysterious people
that her mother planet created
I sing a song of Mercury
of the waters endless song
of the docile green blue planet
and its journeys far and long
I sing a song of the wisdom
Mizuno Ami achieved
for when this lovely planet was lost
the angels in heaven grieved
I sing a song of sadness
for this shining dancing world
for as the wandering time went by
its sad destiny was unfurled
I sing a song of senshi
and the happiness they forgot
I sing a song of warriors strong
and the memory for which they fought
Catalina's nurse said this all very quickly as the soldiers got closer and closer with every advancing step. Even though Catalina was only five she could understand what was going on and she held on to her nurse with her small arms. As the only gypsy child with a nurse, she held on to her fiercely with an attachment that she would have given to the parents she never knew.
The soldiers attacked their cart grabbing her nurse and yelling obscenities to each other. Catalina tried to hold on to her nurse but the soldiers kicked her on to the ground and another gypsy from her caravan scooped her up and took her away. She watched her nurse scream as the soldiers dragged her away. "REMEMBER CATALINA!!" She cried helplessly. The soldiers kicked her until she was unconscious and dragged her away silently. Catalina cried until she had no more tears left inside her and then she resolved that she would never cry again.
Chapter Two:
The Cleansers Next Task
12 Years Later
Miouno and Ami sat together in Minerva's library immersed in ancient parchments. It seemed to Ami that Miouno was looking for something but as to what, as it was with everything that Miouno did, that was a mystery. I suppose you're not supposed to understand the Oracle of Delphi. Ami thought, turning her eyes back to the ancient Cunieform that only yesterday she discovered she knew how to read.
" You are not supposed to understand the Queen of the gods either." Miouno said quietly as she climbed down a ladder with many books in her hands. "And that is what you are for the next thousand years."
Ami sighed and sunk deeper into the maroon velvet chair that she sat in. Being the Queen of the gods felt so odd. As if she had lava running through her veins instead of blood. The power that she possessed, and didn't use, amazed and frightened her beyond imagination.
"Be prepared," Miouno said as she left the room.
Ami rolled her scroll back up and put it back where it belonged. "I guess I won't be reading this." When the Oracle of Delphi said 'be prepared' you were not to take it lightly.
_______________________________________________________________________
Dinner was the time Ami hated the most at Olympus. She couldn't beg off of it, it was mandatory for The Oracle and the rest of the gods to go, Jupiter had declared it to be so. Usually you didn't argue with Jupiter unless you liked being charred by a rampaging lightening bolt. Ami met Miouno in the hall; also sulking at the prospect of dinner even thought she would never admit it. She was too regal and of course, Ami had never told anyone how much she hated going, how could she expect Miouno to do anything different?
The first thing that was made strait when Ami arrived on Olympus was that she was not Jupiter's wife. Jupiter chuckled and set up a separate quarter for her. Ami had the feeling that Miouno had made this entire clear long before Olympus had been transported to another dimension so it would not be frozen with the rest of planet Earth.
Through twists and turns in beautiful marble halls Ami and Miouno reached the dining hall. The white marble floor stayed magically impeccable and the huge windows shed light over the whole room making the crystal chandeliers glow rainbows on the white walls.
Ami sat at her usual place at the end of the table. Jupiter occupied the other end where the older gods such as Uranus, Saturn, Pluto, and Neptune gathered. On Ami's side of the table Venus, Minerva, Mercury, Apollo, Diana, Mars, Cupid and Miouno gathered near Ami. This arrangement, however, was not always inviting.
Miouno sat at Ami's right hand and Minerva soon apparated across from her. Beside Minerva sat Mercury and across from him, Cupid. Apollo followed Cupid and across from him sat Diana, beside Diana sat Mars and across from him Venus soon made a sparkling entrance. Pluto sat beside Venus followed by Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune. Finally with a thunderous sound, Jupiter sat in his chair. Ami braced herself for the usual question.
"Why didn't you just apparate here love," Venus said as the food instantaneously appeared on the table.
" Why should she," Miouno asked Venus pleasantly. "There are some who would rather walk here."
"Like you for instance?" Minerva replied.
"Yes," Miouno answered. "You know the risks of apparateing in this dimension. You may end up somewhere entirely different then you planned, can't you Mars?"
Mars winked in her direction and nodded.
"One of these days your going to have to tell us what happened," Mercury said in an annoyed voice as Miouno and Mars tried to stop each other from laughing.
"I have an announcement to make after dinner." Miouno said suddenly making the room completely silent. "No Venus I'm not getting married."
Venus pouted and returned to her dinner plate. "You all know that these are treacherous times," Pluto said to her.
"Yes we must all be on guard for the correct time to begin the next mission of the Cleanser." Saturn agreed.
"Is that it Miouno?" Neptune asked seriously. "Are you ready to take the Cleanser back?"
"Eat," Miouno answered. "I will tell you after we are finished."
More then anything, the gods loved surprises. Especially when they didn't know what they were. Ami soon realized that being all-knowing isn't always very fun. There were only small surprises like when Cupid sneaked up behind her in the hall and even that was foreseeable just because that was the kind of thing Ami expected from him.
"Alright, we're done," Jupiter said as the table cleared itself. "Continue dear Miouno."
Miouno stood up as she always did when she had something important to say. "The sorcerer's are uneasy and the winds of Mars are blowing east. Not only that but Jupiter is in its 12th house and Orion is shining especially fiercely. We all know what this means."
The gods murmured in response. Ami found herself murmuring along with them in the knowledge that she knew what this meant also. There were no surprises.
"Have you not noticed that Pluto, the last free planet, shines especially brightly? And that three of the four hidden children have been killed? It is all in the prophecies that it will commence this way. The gypsy's talk among each other in soft whispers as the magical creatures of seven of the solar systems planets begin to awake from their enchanted sleep. The Cleanser is with us now and the oppressors of the planet continue to hear Earth's dance even after it has been paused. The signs are clear. The time is now."
Miouno silently left the room and Mercury rose to follow her. Minerva pulled him back to his seat and Ami went after Miouno instead.
"Miouno?" Ami called. Nothing answered her. Miouno had disappeared like that before. She seemed to vanish into walls. With her new powers, Ami could sense apparation and disapperation and she could sense nothing now.
Ami tensed, she was beginning to sense an apparation. She turned and was face to face with Cupid. "Have you found her," Cupid asked, obviously concerned.
"No," Ami said looking around.
"This really hurts her you know." Cupid said softly. "Loosing her family the first time was a crushing blow and now...when she goes back she's going to have to face that again."
"What do you mean?" Ami asked. "Mamoru is on Earth."
"So she hasn't told you yet." Cupid said to himself smiling. "Let me tell you," he said levitating a few feet off of the ground. "That the spirits of the great never truly die, they just rest whether they were greatly good or greatly evil."
"Will you please tell me what's going on?" Ami asked calmly.
Cupid kissed her. "Stop pretending like you don't already know and be what you are, stop fighting it Ami this is your destiny." Ami looked into his eyes as she began to feel the lava in her blood become cooler. She began to succumb to the inevitable and see through the eyes of a goddess.
Cupid looked at her and smiled. "Don't think thats the last time I'll do that."
Every time he does something wonderful he has to ruin it, thought Ami as she studied Cupid's eyes as they walked down the halls till searching for Miouno. Its as if he wants to ruin himself in my eyes. Does he?
Cupid seemed to sense her gaze, "why do you watch me My Queen." He asked seriously.
"Why do you ruin yourself with an intrigue that doesn't exist?" Ami asked him.
"Mmm good question," he said running his hands down the walls of hallway. "When you can answer it I will never show you this little intrigue of mine again."
" You're lying." Ami said flatly.
"Good," Cupid said with glee. "You're using your powers. Now tell me what am I going to do next."
Ami stared at him for a moment and million memories came rushing back to her all at once. Cupid's library, his temple in Greece....
"You're going to...."
Ami was interrupted by Mercury's angry footsteps down the hall. How Ami knew it was Mercury, she could only begin to imagine.
"You look for her Mercury?" Ami asked without turning her head to see him.
"Oh!" Mercury said joy plain on his voice. "You're using your powers now. Great! Can you find Miouno?" He asked hopefully.
"Miouno won't be found unless she wants to be," Cupid said in a far away voice. "That is her nature."
Mercury shot him a dirty look as Ami began to feel the walls as Cupid had been doing before. Cupid knew where Miouno was, he knew a lot about her. More then he would like to let on. Ami pushed back a section of the wall that was right next to a picture of Apollo and Diana.
Ami felt it ease back slightly but no more. Cupid tried and smiled, as he could not get it. Mercury tried his luck at the wall and with one tip of his finger had the wall back, uncovering a room where Miouno sat pouring over a large scroll.
"The last person you would expect to be able to open my door." She said smiling. "I trust Cupid has awakened you to the knowledge that you must use your powers my Queen." Ami nodded and Miouno stood up to greet them. "The power the people we love have over us is immense." Miouno said wistfully. "Don't feel so arrogant Cupid I may have been referring to something else."
Cupid smiled and winked at Miouno who pretended to be unamused. "I have brought you three here for a reason. I suppose you were wondering why you would be the only ones able to find and open this place."
No one nodded; they stood transfixed at Miouno's words. "Well," she said sighing and looking at Mercury. "For the discomfort of some." Mercury looked angrily at Cupid who looked longingly at Ami who looked pleadingly at Miouno who, finally, refused to meet Mercury's gaze once it shifted from Cupid to her. "Well perhaps all of us, our destiny's are intertwined in this mission and there is nothing we can do about it."
"Give us the update my dear," Cupid said. "Quote the prophecy's that you know so well."
"I ought to know them," Miouno said with fake haughtiness, "I wrote them." She cleared her throat and began....
"Fallen Angels." She said. "Hell's benefactors. Heavens exiles."
The mood in the room, which had been questioning had suddenly become somber and tense.
Miouno held out her hand and suddenly a globe of light appeared. The planets began to arrange themselves around this globe. Inside the globe Ami could see faces, the faces of the Sailor senshi and Mamoru and even Miouno, but two were missing. Sailor Pluto and Sailor Moon. "You are wondering what your comrades have to do with this mission, my queen. Wonder no more." The planets began to become dull and a particular star that faced each planet began to shine brighter then all of them.
"That is the Star of Tanamandela. You're father, Ami, discovered it and named it after your mother. Standing upon this star you can reach all the planets with your Cleansing power. These people you see in the globe are not your friends, but usurpers. They are fallen angels, the vultures of this galaxy. They ravaged the planets after the Silver Millennium and made themselves soveren over them, taking on the form of its former rulers so that they may be looked on with respect. Look closely and you will see however, the vacancy in their eyes so void of human compassion. The people of outer space are under their curse and see only what these fallen angels want them to see. There are few who are awakened to the spell of the Pachementierre family.
" Pachementierre," Ami said to herself. "That means peace on earth in Latin."
"It does, but these celestial beings are not for peace. And my dear Ami, Celestial does not always mean pure." Miouno continued. " These fallen angels were removed from heaven shortly after the Silver Millenniums collapse. They fed on the pain of the people and took them under their control. The Earth was safe so these beings put a cloud over the planets. A cloud of hate and deceit that made the Earthlings believe that they were uninhabitable and that their atmospheres were toxic. The planets retain their former beauty though the buildings are dark and the people are sad. "
"So the reason there is no Usagi is because there is no Moon Kingdom?" Ami asked.
"Exactly." Miouno answered. "The one who acts as my cousin is the High Emperor over them all."
"And Pluto?" Cupid asked.
"Has been shielded by gypsy tales of powerful beings spotted on the Moore of Asreil."
"Gypsies?" Ami said surprised.
"Yes," Miouno said. "These are a people that have not been infused with the curse of the Pachementierre. They usually do not come to the planets but for trade. The Gypsy people traverse the galaxy in living ships. They have their own government called The Kris. They have no need for the affairs of planet walkers. More often than not however, this people and all their clans gather on the Forest Planet, Pluto. They tell these tales so that they will not be bothered and because of deep superstition. There are three moors on Pluto, each one as vacant as the next. The Moore of Briannali, the Moore of Tempestusa and the Moore of Asreil. The first, the Moore of Briannali, is for Gypsy meetings, Tempestua is for times of trouble and Asreil is sacred and thought to be haunted. The rest of the planet is forest and can only be reached by navigating the four rivers of North, South, East and West." Miouno heaved a heavy sigh. "Pluto is our last stronghold for the gypsy people are our allies. Along with the Inner Sorcerers who have been in hiding for many years." Miouno looked around at the questioning faces.
"The inner sorcerer's are 2 men and 2 women from Mercury, Mars, Venus and Jupiter who were once on the council of their respective planets. They possess great power. They also hold the key to the child who will guard the planets until the senshi reawaken.
"Each sorcerer hid the child of the Chief advisors of their respective planets as the Pachementierre began to gain power. Alexia of Jupiter, Cannelo of Venus, Ridunda of Mars and the wisest of them all Gandlebrim of Mercury. They all hid the children separately and watched them secretly, sending with them servants to tell them and their children's children the truth of our past until Ami came to liberate them."
" Three of these children are dead," Mercury, said, "is that not true?"
"Sadly, yes." Miouno answered. "Or the line was not able to survive these many years in hiding."
"Tell us more about these Pachementierre," Cupid said.
"We don't know why they were exiled from heaven but we do know that when the nega-verse was released, they were made able to enter this solar system. In they came, feeding on the pain and suffering of the people left behind by the collapse of an era."
Suddenly the ball of light in the center of the room became bigger and Ami began to see the planets and the scene's Miouno was describing.
" They silenced the magical creatures and killed the minor wizards. On Uranus, they built metropolis' in the sky so that the people would never see the true ground and mayhap awaken a dragon. On Saturn, the planet of dragons, fairies and wizards, they have quieted them all. Even the castle walls have been silenced and torn down. The weather and landscape however, remains as it always has as Saturn's eaternal Autumn. On Neptune, they have silenced the mer-people, destroyed the underwater cities and the planet that is completely sea is now traversed by ships. On Mars, the genies have been buried and the beautiful scimitars that Mars had been so famous for were melted down to make treasures for this evil people. On Venus the cloud cities have been ravaged and the nightingales no longer sing. The cherubs and Angels that played so freely there have rallied around Cupid and Venus telling them sad stories of destruction."
Ami looked at Cupid her turned away from her gaze. She used her powers to look around him and saw a worried look haze his troubled eyes. By the time Ami looked away she felt the salty drops rolling down her own cheeks as well.
"The castle walls of Venus are dry and the peach tree's do not bear fruit. On Jupiter the thunder no longer calls and the mountain cities no longer exist between the bridged rocky peaks. The people are forced to live in the valleys and the dwarves no longer dig for ore in the mountains. The trolls that once plagued the people have all been murdered."
"That's one good thing," Mercury said sarcastically.
" Their blood has run through the once pure waterfalls of the planet," Miouno continued, "and the people no longer drink. On Mercury the water nymphs and willow dryads, the mer-people and fairies, the sorcerer's and animals of voice have all been silenced. Natalia has been destroyed, its walls quieted and Victoria's palace has been reduced to rags compared to what it once was. The wise centaurs hide in fear at these evil beings. The gypsies have taken the unicorns to Pluto. The eagle's no longer fly over any of these planets, they sense the danger and they know the truth.
"All this, these creatures with evil yet awesome powers have done and they still continue to drain the planets of the little happiness they have."
"I will liberate them," Ami said in a determined voice as she watched the globe of scenes. "Take me to The Star of Tanamandela." Ami said.
"I am afraid it is not so easy." Miouno said. "These beings are not as self-assured as Juno. They read the prophecies and take precautions against them. The Star of your mother is barred by evil. We must find a time and a way to sneak on it. After you Cleanse the planets, there will be a battle between the gods and these beings. I know this to be true." Miouno sighed. Ami sensed a feeling, a feeling that Miouno didn't know something critical but soon she forgot about these thoughts and put her mind back on the task at hand.
"I will usurp the usurpers." Ami said quietly.
"We both will," Miouno said. "In the meantime we must meet with the four sorcerer's and the last child."
"And our purpose?" Cupid asked for he and Mercury.
"You will protect Ami and I and guard the Pachementierre's that we will capture." Miouno said. "And while Ami and I are keeping up appearances you will search for a way to reach the star. From time to time Ami and I will help you but it is most important that they believe that Ami and I are like them."
"Yes," Mercury said. "I understand. When shall we leave?"
"As soon as we can. I will call upon the sorcerer's to meet us on the deserted floor of Uranus, then we will proceed to find the child, finally, after that Ami and I will enter the royalty of the Pachementierre. The child is key we must find her, she knows how to fight, how to hide in a world that the gods have not dared to look upon for fear that they would scar their eyes."
Miouno clapped her hands and the room around them was gone. All four of them were standing in the hallway outside the now gone room.
"Ami, come with me. You must make contact with the sorcerer's I am not strong enough." Miouno said.
"You, not strong enough?" Ami looked at her and a tired expression clouded Miouno's eyes.
"I don't feel well." Miouno said. "I think I've been over doing myself." She touched her head as if it hurt just as Mercury advanced and took her arm.
"Ami can contact them herself." He said gently. "You haven't been sleeping have you? You're mortal remember, you need to sleep." He picked Miouno up and carried her down the hall. Ami watched as Miouno protested softly and in a tired voice that she didn't need his help.
"Now that girl doesn't give up," Cupid said laughing. "She's been suffering from insomnia these past couple days, its finally getting to her. Oh no, but she won't let fatigue get in the way of her feud with Mercury, gods forbid it. One day she'll realize how bull-headed she's being."
"Will you ever realize how bull-headed you are?" Ami asked sarcastically turning down the hall knowing where she was going but as with many things lately, not knowing how she knew.
"Wait," Cupid called apparating in front of her. "I want to go too."
"That's not such a good idea." Ami said stepping forward again.
"I was afraid you would say that so I decided I would only ask you to be polite. You know I'm going to follow you whether you want me to or not."
Ami envisioned where she wanted to be, she envisioned the massive windows in the grand hall, the throne room and the table for special occasions. And then she went, apparated. The most odd sensation for she said nothing before doing it, felt no planet power as she went. Amazing, she thought to herself as she reached on of the largest windows.
Ami summoned all the strength inside of her and called upon her powers. "Cannelo, Alexia Ridunda, Gandlebrim." Suddenly four of the windows in the hall flashed and glittered to life. Ami saw four hermits, each dressed in gray. One was a raven haired woman who looked about 50, the other was a large woman who looked as if she had giant blood in her and had long brown hair with white streaks in it, a man had deep gray hair and a goatee that twirled upward, and the last man had silver white hair with a beard that reached his waist and half moon glasses reaching the end of his crooked nose. Ami didn't know how she knew but she knew the first woman was Ridunda, the second Alexia, the first man Cannelo, and the second Gandlebrim.
"Greeting from the Queen of the gods, the Cleanser and the true Queen of Mercury."
Each Sorcerer turned to face her Ami knew that they saw her as if she was appearing to them. "My Queen." Gandlebrim said in a deep rich voice bowing on his staff.
"Your majesty," said Ridunda in a voice riddled with mystery.
"Your highness," Cannelo answered in a voice that cracked with age.
"Your Eminence," Alexia said, her voice husky and powerful.
"The Oracle of Delphi and High Duchess of Earth requests your audience on the floors of Uranus when Apollo reaches his peak in the sky tomorrow. Meet us directly below the center of the city. We have much to talk about and much to plan. Goodbye for now." Ami stopped the psychic connection and apparated outside of Miouno's door to tell her what she had done. She almost opened the door when she heard the sound of a chair being pulled across the floor.
"Please just go away," Miouno said in a tired voice.
"If I leave," Mercury responded truthfully, "you'll talk yourself out of sleeping."
" I am too tired to argue with you," Miouno said impatiently.
"But not to tired to write prophecies and make meetings. Go to Sleep!" Ami could just picture Mercury trying to convince Miouno to go to sleep. Sitting in a chair beside her bed while Miouno sat up and argued with him fatigue written all over her face and then finally laying down and putting her hands on her head as if she had a headache. Suddenly Ami realized that she was not imagining it, she was looking right through the wall and watching.
" I know that you refuse to fall asleep until you hear some music so I brought this." He picked up a guitar. "What do you desire to hear?"
" I can not believe I'm letting you do this." Miouno said rubbing her head again and yawning. "Play something relaxing...flamenco perhaps?"
" Very good taste my dear, and a very tall order. I wonder if my fingers can keep up with my voice."
"They can."
Mercury began to play the song and Ami was quite amazed that his fingers kept up with his beautiful voice. The picking that they had to do on the guitar was so furious but so calming that Ami even felt relaxed.
"Spying too?" Cupid asked from behind her, taking Ami by surprise.
"They're fun to watch." Ami said. "I can't believe he takes so much time to understand her to know what she likes. He loves her so much."
"And she enjoys it more than she says she does." Cupid agreed. Mercury stopped playing and the two gods standing outside the door saw that Miouno was fast asleep. Mercury bent down and kissed her cheek and she smiled as if dreaming a beautiful dream.
Mercury left the room and Ami and Cupid ran down the hall trying to stop them selves from laughing at their exploits. "I saw you behind there, both of you." Mercury said calmly. "I didn't tell Miouno because she was to tired to see and if she would have known she wouldn't have done as I asked of her."
"She was too tired to refuse." Cupid said trying, hopelessly, to keep a strait face.
"Yes she was." Mercury agreed. "Have you contacted the sorcerer's?"
"I have," Ami said. "We are to meet them tomorrow at noon under Uranus' main city."
"Perfect." Mercury said. "Miouno will be rather pleased."
In Miouno's room, Miouno dreamed of a beautiful girl of seventeen dancing among her people, the gypsies. Not knowing the future ahead of her.
Chapter Three:
The Four Sorcerers
Miouno woke up after a blissful 16 hours of sleep only to remember that Mercury had been the last person in her room. She groaned, kicked away her sheets and waited for Cupid to enter as she expected him to.
"So Miouno," Cupid said smiling at her.
"Silence." Miouno said turning to her bathroom.
Cupid chuckled and called after her, "if I've said it once I've said it one thousand times a minute...."
Miouno levitated a pillow behind Cupid and hit him on the head with it, hard. He blinked and she was already in the shower. Cupid left rubbing his and laughing.
_______________________________________________________________________
Miouno, Ami, Mercury and Cupid met in the corridor outside Miouno's room at half past eleven. "Ready for the beginning of act one?" Miouno asked solemnly.
"Oh but not all the actors have arrived yet," Mercury said. "We must wait until we reach the Emperor's home before we can begin the show."
"Very true," Ami said. "And one of our allies is missing."
"The child." Cupid nodded. "Shall we go?"
"We shall." Ami answered.
And so they went.
_______________________________________________________________________
They were under a large floating black metal mass that roamed above them. The landscape reminded Ami of the Southwestern United States. The sun scorched high where the buildings did not block it and there was a rustic beauty to the tan Earth. There were tall pillars of rock carved out of the ground and many caves in the tall canyons and mesas.
"This is only one half of Uranus," Miouno said. "The other half was more inhabited and looked much like the Mediterranean actually much like ancient Greece. Hot in the summer with cold winters and beautiful springs, wonderful for olive and grape growing. I remember, I received my first sword from this planet." Miouno stuck her hand right through the ground. "When on Uranus you must understand that there is no true ground. This is a part of the sky also. But it is called the ground because this is the closest you can get to the core."
" I hope I am not late," said a misty voice appearing in a shock of red smoke.
"Of course not Ridunda," Ami said eloquently. "We need only wait for your comrades."
"Wait no longer," Miouno said.
Three puffs of smoke, green, yellow, and blue followed in Ridunda's path. Alexia, Cannelo and Gandlebim bowed and curtsied for the party of four after Ridunda.
"Speak loyal servants of the crown," Ami said softly, "your word is of much importance."
"And hinder not the children in your tale." Miouno added.
"You Alexia the Mighty, speak first." Mercury said.
"Thank you your majesty she said removing the hood that covered her eyes and stepping forward. Her brown-gray hair shone red and white in the sunlight and the strength in magic flowed from her very being.
"I, Alexia the great Sorceress ask for your ears and patience." She began. "When my comrades and I joined together before the collapse of the Moon Kingdom we agreed that if anything should happen to the Chief advisors of each planet we would take their children and hide them. You see, like you wisest of all wise Chiba Miouno, Ridunda had seen many visions of the collapse of Silver Millennium. So we began to tense for the worst.
"The Chief advisor of Jupiter at the time was Farnecio Ollivander. He had a son named Bartemius." Suddenly the gods began to see visions of Farnecio, a strong looking bald man, being hurt in battle against Queen Beryl's minions. An image was brought to his young son and a younger looking Alexia, picking the child up and apparating it away from Jupiter.
"I took Bartemius and hid him, with a loyal nurse, among the naiads of Mercury." A tear formed in the Sorceress' eyes. "But when the naiads were hunted out Bartemius was found and his identity made known." Her head lowered, "He helped many good naiads escape but he was killed before the eyes of many."
Cannelo put is arm around poor Alexia and tried to comfort her in her loud sobs.
"I am sorry," Cupid said looking at the poor sorceress with concern. She stopped and raised her head. "I am to blame, I should not have chosen such a foolish place to hide the child."
"Cannelo the Brave," Ami said, "I wish to hear your tale now."
"The Chief Advisor of the planet Venus was Dequim Loreno. I hid his poor son Nikolas among the genies of Mars." He sighed a deep sigh, "two generations of his children came of my hiding before they were trapped in a cave with these captured genies and died a cruel death on Mars."
"Now you Ridunda the Insightful," Miouno said softly.
" I hid the child of Anabella Corien among the fairies of Saturn. They did there best to save Gwendolyn Corrien but their magic was not strong enough without the help of the dragons who still are in hiding as we speak. They do, however, still have the power to retain the eternal fall weather on the planet Saturn, making the conditions perfect for deep fairy magic."
"I see," Miouno said. "Now Gandlebrim the Wise."
The old man tucked his long beard into his robe and straitened his half moon glasses. "Rafaello Dominey was hid among the gypsies of the planets and I am happy to say that his great-great-great- granddaughter lives. Her name is Catalina and she is 17 years old. She has no idea of her identity however so finding her may be a task for magic."
"Understandable," Mercury taking a scroll out of his pocket. He put on the ground and immediately the planets began to form around it. "I suggest you continue living on as hermits until this is all over," Mercury suggested. "We will call upon your aid when necessary."
"At your service." Ridunda responded graciously at him.
Mercury closed his eyes, "she is on Pluto."
"So that's how he keeps finding me," Miouno whispered to Ami and Cupid.
"The gypsies are always moving from place to place and do not bother with the affairs of the planets, that is why this hiding place was ideal." Gandlebrim said. "But the fact that they are Pluto is unsurprising. It is almost time for the Spring Equinox, a time that brings much upheaval and celebration on the planets. The gypsies hold a meeting on the Moore Briannali and if things are unsure, the Moore of Tempestua."
"We will find her without a problem," Miouno said gratefully.
"Thank you very much." Ami told them.
"No," Cannelo said, "it is you we must thank, for helping our world Cleanser."
The Sorcerer's dissolved and the gods followed in suit. "To Pluto?" Ami asked Miouno when they found themselves back on Olympus.
"Yes," Miouno said. "Of course."
Chapter Four:
Finding a Guide
Catalina didn't know her last name. Most of the time she was just called GYPSY (!!) by those who didn't know her. Despite this fact however, she was surrounded by people who adored her and never had ever felt alone...except for once.
On Pluto's Moor of Briannali Catalina's family had landed their spacecraft called Sarcasmoto (the spaceship had adopted this name because of his cheeky ways and biting answers). Stepping on the beloved Briannali, 17 year-old Catalina did as she always did. She raised her hands high and whirled around her long skirts twirling with her and her bangles jingling in the wind. She eventually fell down on the ground with carefree dizziness, got back up and dusted off her brown skin, ran her hands through her long black hair and blinked her black eyes five times as a sign that all was clear.
Immediately, the rest of her family stepped out of the ship and other gypsies came out of hiding from the forests surrounding the Moore. As usual, Catalina's family was the last to arrive on Pluto so camp fires were made and spaceships came out of invisible mode.
A man came from behind Catalina, scooped her up and twirled her around, "wonderful to see you." He said giving her a warm kiss on the cheek.
"Reno!" She cried hugging him. Every gypsy here was family although they did have their disputes. But the Kris more often then not solved them. She brushed back Renzo's untidy black hair poking him in his bright green eyes gently as she always did. Everything here was a ceremony, a rite of passage.
The gypsy's clothing was a rainbow of colors as a huge bonfire was made in the middle of all the spaceships and the older men and women sat together sat together and began to tell stories. Suddenly, about seven little children ran up to Catalina and Renzo.
"Say a rhyme Cata!" A little brown haired girl named Andréa called.
The children all nodded and murmured in agreement so Catalina spread out her constellation printed skirts and sat down on the ground. "This is one of the ones my Nanny taught me when I was a little girl." She said to the children. "And it's true."
"Are all the poems you say true?" Asked a little boy named Doni.
"All of them," Renzo said playfully. "Every single one!"
"Even the ones about the princesses?" Andréa asked giggling and looking around the vast moor into the forests.
"Even those." Catalina said tickling the giggling girl. "Now, what do you want to here about?"
"I know!" Said a tiny girl sitting next to Renzo. "Tell us the one about poor Queen Selenity."
"Are you sure Lalita," Catalina asked, "that is a very sad poem."
"I am sure," the little girl said.
Farewell
Moon of magic moon of splendor
on your holy ground I cry
you kill me with your finish
in this poisonous goodbye
but it doesn't matter no its doesn't matter
if on your sacred ground I die
for my life has but one purpose
and now its done, so I will fly
Moon of beauty moon of spirit
I will save your mother Earth
for the children, for the planets
and to save us from this curse
and its not important, no its not important
if this brings me my last breath
for the last thing that I fear now
is my own insignificant death
Moon of wisdom Moon of wonder
I will say my last farewell
I know I face the light of heaven
not the burning pits of hell
but its all worth it, yes its all worth it
because in the end, not all is lost
and I can say I saved my people
and did not care what it would cost
By the end of the poem the children had tears in there eyes and were begging for more.
"Catalina," called her adoptive mother Luci.
Catalina ran towards the voice. Luci was very old and very wise. She sat around the bon-fire with a group of elderly people talking in hushed voices. Renzo followed Catalina but stopped just as Catalina entered the circle, and waited.
"Hello Mamá," Catalina said, "what do you ask of me?"
The old wrinkled woman spoke in but a whisper but her voice was so respected everyone was silent so she was heard by all. "I want you to tell them," Mamá said softly, "about the poem and the legend. My old mind is not quick to remember the verses as you are my child. Sit among us and debate with us."
Catalina looked around at the serious faces of the rest of the elders and felt worried. There was reason that she was here, and this was no ordinary meeting. "I can feel the urgency in this meeting Mamá, why are we not on Tempestua?"
The old woman nodded and smiled a grin that had not so many teeth. "I told you my dear child was wise," she said to the others. "We do not want to make the people uncomfortable. Now, tell us of the Cleanser, sit down."
"This tale was meant for the children," Catalina said. "But I suppose we were all children once so I shall begin."
The Cleanser
Children gather round
find a place and sit down
to listen to the story I tell
of an Oracle, a child
and a goddess gone wild
and the wickedness for which she fell
The Legends begins
with the many unforgivable sins
that the queen of the gods would transgress
So the Oracle of the past
worked diligently and fast
so that Juno's plans would not progress
A soldier was made
and plans were soon laid
That this senshi would save our world
the Cleanser she'd be
for an eternity
until Juno's plans were finally unfurled
Then the day came
when the Queen went insane
and sent a plague on the child of the moon
but the Cleanser would come through
for me and for you
and the trouble was over soon
An Oracle girl
of the Earths past world
soon would lead this senshi to her fate
for it was she who was the one
guided by stars and the sun
who with The Cleanser would relate
So when the Earth was silent
and its innards nonviolent
then the Queen will have been reborn
and The Cleanser of water
Mercury's daughter
to her throne will have been sworn
And soon it will come
When all that I've said is done
that our people will be free again
for the Cleanser of peace
the planets, she will release
and her blessing, upon us will send
"Armando," said Mamá to a wizened old gypsy man across the circle. "I suppose you know longer hear the Earths dance."
"I do not." Armando confessed. "The signs are here. The winds of Mars blow east and Jupiter is its 12th House."
"Now Catalina," another man named Rodolfo said to her. "What did your Nanny say to you before...she was taken away."
Catalina looked at her uneasily and Mamá motioned to Renzo to enter the circle and comfort her. These were the memories Catalina had tried her entire life to block out but to no avail. Her screaming nurse, the jeering guards. Mamá stooping down quickly to pick her up and take her away knowing that she could do nothing for Catalina's nurse. Catalina remembered crying until her eyes no longer had any tears in them. She sighed and straitened her necklace of gold circles that matched her head-piece and the one around her stomach.
"I remember her telling me that I was special. That I shouldn't be surprised if I was thrown into course with people much stronger then we can fathom." Catalina looked around.
"We are sorry we had to bring that up again my dear," Rodolfo said as Catalina struggled to hold back her cries, no matter how hard she cried though, not tears would come. They never would.
"May I be excused," Catalina asked as Renzo put his arm around her shoulders. The council agreed and Renzo helped Catalina up and walked her away from the circle.
"I am sorry." Renzo said softly.
"Not your fault." Catalina said in a dead voice. "I suppose they think The Cleanser is coming." Catalina walked ahead of Renzo to the campfire that Mamá's brother, Sinecio had made. Sinecio's son, Antonio, sat there humming but suddenly got up at Catalina's approach. He smiled, "Hello Cata, its so beautiful today no?"
"She's not in the mood," Renzo said warningly. Renzo was Catalina's best friend ever since she was born. The only one who hadn't left her since she was created. The only one who had stayed with her since the beginning.
"Don't call me Cata please." Catalina said softly. "Its for the children." They heard a call coming from the center of moor where the biggest bonfire was set up. And all the gypsies began to congregate there. Catalina got over her pain and raced Renzo there just in time to sit with Delia, another one of her friends from another clan.
The elders began to sit among the people and the Kris took their seats in front to address the meeting that they always had before the Spring solstice. Catalina barely listened as they droned on about things she knew would never change as long as the Pachementierre were ruling the planets, principally, the mistreatment of gypsies. It had been many a time when Catalina had to run for her life using all her skill and cunning to escape a group of soldiers or even sell something in the market. It was sad, but this was reality.
Renzo took his violin out from behind his back and Delia produced a pair of castanets. Haroldo Faa, one of the members of the Kris, smiled at the young people and ended the meeting. "Thank God," Catalina heard Antonio breathe to Delia. "I was falling asleep."
Antonio produced a guitar, Renzo began to stroke his violin and Delia gave Catalina her castanets. "I'll play guitar." She said. "You're better with these then I."
The young people began to play a flamenco tune of fast guitar picking and beautiful violin responses. The castanets tied it in all together. If one could describe music, it wouldn't exist so unless you have heard flamenco I cannot explain to you the amazing sound that came from the Moore of Briannali. Only know that it was so beautiful that Renzo handed off his guitar to someone else and took Catalina's castanet laden hand. They faced each other their foreheads almost touching and moved in a circle still very close. The gypsies erupted with applause as the song ended and Renzo and Catalina sat down.
The night proceeded in this fashion with Delia and Catalina switching instrument half way so that Delia could dance herself. Catalina soon forgot about her memories and her troubles and immersed herself in the music of her people. This how we have survived, she thought, by banding together and never forsaking one another. It is in this fashion that we have managed to live through the hate of these last generations.
That night Catalina stepped out of Sarcasmoto as she always did on the first night on Pluto. So far no one knew of these excursions. Catalina took her shawl to protect her from the cold night air and head towards the forest, following the West River to her destination.
Suddenly, she heard a twig break behind her. Is it a gypsy? She asked herself. But which? Most of us are not that loud. Catalina reached up and swung herself into a tree waiting for her stalker to follow her. As the person walked under the tree Catalina swung her herself down hitting him in the legs. The person fell to the ground with a tired groan.
"Oh my God," Catalina whispered. "I am so sorry Antonio." She would have known that groan anywhere.
He got up and dusted himself off. "Where are you going?"
"No where," she answered helping him up and helping him dust off his knee high boots.
"Thats the way to Asriel." He said with concern on his voice. "You shouldn't be going there."
Catalina rolled her eyes. "Of course not." She said sarcastically. "Go home. " She pushed him towards the spaceship and despite his protests he listened to her and went. He turned back as she reentered the forest, "you know I worry about you." He said sincerely. He kissed her on the cheek and went away. "I suppose you of all people not how to take care of yourself."
Catalina wandered back into the forest finally reaching her destination. The moore is quiet tonight, She thought as she stepped upon Asriel's soft ground. She began to be comforted by the supernatural forces there. Suddenly four balls of light appeared out of nowhere. Two of blue, one white and one a shade of turquoise. She heard four voices, two male, two female, in the distance. They began to approach her.
"Don't be afraid." Said a woman with blue black hair. She was a gypsy or was dressed as such. Catalina breathed a sigh, she was probably a fortune teller or a mystic coming to the Moor to feel its vibrations. However, there was something about her eyes. Something Celestial, godly.
The other woman with her black hair cascading down her back and a golden circle with flat coin-like shapes adorning her head and stomach. It was the same for the other woman. The both of them wore many bangles and large hoped-earrings like the other gypsy women. Their long skirts were brightly colored and heavily designed and their shirts did not cover their stomachs, this was not strange. But there was something bout this woman's eyes also. It was knowledge and wisdom that poured from the blue orbs.
The two men also showed themselves, one was blonde and blue eyes and did not look Roma (gypsy) at all. But his clothing and air of carefree love told Catalina differently. He wore a loose blue shirt that tucked in at his black pants. His black boots were identical to his partners and to Antonio's. The blonde's friend did look gypsy and was dressed as one in his loose fitting blood red shirt and black pants. He even had an earring in one ear. But yet, these two also had the look in their eyes. The godliness.
"You are not Roma," Catalina said steadily backing away.
"Take us to your people and you will then know the truth," The dark haired man said. There was something in his eyes that told Catalina to believe him and she was suddenly infused with calm as he reached out his hand to touch hers as a symbol of his peace.
Catalina led the way back to Briannali looking behind her every now and then at her silent companions. At the camp what was once silent was now full of roaring fires once again. Now that the night had risen to its peak and the children were safely in bed the young were out again, stoking fires and tuning instruments.
Renzo stood up and smiled at Catalina's approach across the moor but he looked at her questioningly when he saw the four people following her. She approached him steadily reassuring him with her eyes. "These are...." Catalina realized she had no idea what their names were.
"Ami," Miouno said pointing at Ami. "I'm Adela." She turned to Mercury and Cupid. "And these two are Eros and Hermes." Renzo looked at Cupid strangely and then smiled. "Pleased to meet you, excuse me but you do not look Roma." He said.
Cupid returned his smile, "but like you, Catalina, that is all I know of."
Catalina felt a surge run up her spine. She hadn't told him anything about herself yet he knew that she had no clue who she was or where she came from. Catalina looked at his blue eyes dancing in the firelight, they were still godly, still celestial.
"Anyway," Cupid said still smiling, "I dance like a Roma, if not anything." He took Ami's hand and started toward the firelight. Mercury took out a guitar and Miouno produced a pair of castanets.
Ami was pulled by Cupid before she knew what was going on. "What in the name of Jupiter are you doing," she whispered in his ear. "I don't know how to do this!"
"Yes you do." Cupid whispered back, "of course you know, you're the Queen." Ami felt her feet move close to Cupid's as Mercury began to strum the first few chords on his guitar. Miouno began to clickity-clack her castanets together and Ami felt herself moving as if she had danced this way all her life. Miouno began to sing in the language of the Roma. Ami marveled at Miouno's mastering of this music, of course Ami never asked how she knew. With Miouno it was best if you didn't ask.
"How did you know?" Ami asked as she twisted around Cupid, her hand in his.
"You should ask yourself the same question." He whispered jovially and the song ended as suddenly as it had began.
"Wonderful." Catalina said happily.
"Not as wonderful as you and Renzo's." Miouno said knowingly.
Again Catalina looked at her eyes. They were almost hidden by the smoke of the fire but the light from them was still the same, wise. Miouno rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"Are you all right Adela?" Catalina asked.
"She's fine," Mercury responded. "She just needs sleep."
" I most certainly do not!" Miouno said sharply.
"You do," said Cupid approaching the group. "We should set up camp somewhere around here. You see Catalina, our ship crashed and so we cannot go back to it."
"A sister is always quick to offer her home to her brother." Catalina smiled. "If Adela is tired she may rest on my ship."
"I do not need rest," Miouno responded in an even more tired voice. "Why do you insist?"
"Where is your ship," Mercury asked. Catalina pointed out the way and Mercury picked up Miouno and said; "Why must it always come to this you stubborn little girl." She immediately fell asleep and Ami and Cupid went, through gales of laughter, and followed them.
Chapter Five:
The Barbarian Queen
Miouno awoke the next morning to see Ami peering down on her. "I've never asked you about this before." Ami said slowly as she noticed Miouno rubbing her eyes. "Do you love him?"
Miouno walked across the room that was filled with hammocks. It had a high ceiling and a floor of metal. The door was also of metal and everyone else was sleeping. "I have been in love. This is most definatly not it." Miouno said firmly.
"How do you know you were in love the first time?" Ami asked. "Perhaps...."
"No." Miouno said softly.
"Have you always felt this much hate for Mercury? Always?"
"Yes, it is the type of annoyance that consumes ones mind. One that you can never fly from."
"Consumes ones mind?" Ami said to herself.
Suddenly one of the many hammocks rustled fitfully and Ami walked over to it. Knowing it was Cupid there though she couldn't see, not knowing how she knew, she just did.
"Stop." Miouno said. She rushed over to Cupid's side. "Be gone." She whispered. "Now you see why I mustn't sleep." Miouno said softly. "Cupid's dreams, he never remembers them but I know he is seeing something terrible. He is plagued with them every night. Cupid is my friend and I must protect him."
"I see now," Ami, said softly, "I didn't know."
"He blocked it from you," Miouno said softly staring down at him. "He didn't want you to know what he had been suffering through."
Ami put her hand on his cheek. "Its burning," she said astounded.
"Just as your cheeks were before, when you felt lava coursing through your veins." Miouno said. "These are your dreams. He took them from you Ami, he sacrificed his peace for you."
"You mean this plague is mine?" Ami asked. "He took it from me when...when."
"When he made you understand what you had to do. That kiss saved you from what he is going through now, these paranormal nightmares that he must bare all in your name. This lava that courses through his blood, he lives through it so that you needn't."
"What does it all mean?" Ami asked.
"You began to have this lava blood when the constellations were preparing themselves for your arrival. But there will always be strong forces that will wish you dead Cleanser, strong evil forces. They plagued you with these maladies as the time began. Cupid saw your discomfort when no other god did; he saw it and took care of it in his own way. Cupid knows that in those conditions you cannot Cleanse. He knew the only way to liberate you from this curse was to bring it upon himself. So he did."
Ami felt tears rampage down her cheeks. "I am so sorry." She whispered rubbing his cheek. "I am so sorry." She kissed his burning forehead. Cupid's eyes batted open and he sat up.
"Good morning," he yawned. He looked at Ami and smiled, "why ever are you crying? What depressing things did you say to her Miouno?"
Ami began to cry even harder and Miouno put her arm around her shoulders. "It is for a great love that she has been shown that she weeps." Miouno said to Cupid.
"I guess I've been beaten then," Cupid said good-naturedly. "Do wake up my Uncle."
"I am awake," Mercury said sitting in the hammock that Ami and Miouno had their backs turned to. "And I have been awake," he said and looked at Miouno. "May I have a word my dear?"
Miouno nodded. "What is it?" She whispered as Mercury pulled her to remote corner of the room.
"Why did you tell her?" Mercury hissed at Miouno. "You needn't have done that."
"She only loves him more." Miouno said softly, " and that is none of your concern." Miouno walked away careful not to wake any of the other people in the hammocks. She opened the door and beckoned for the others to follow her. How does she know her way? Ami wondered. She was asleep when she was brought on board.
The ships interior was completely metallic with several doors on each side of the halls until you reached an open room. Here there were large windows that spanned across the front of the room. Four seats sat under these windows side by side in a semi-circle shape. The controls to the ship were here and in the center of the circular room there was a dome that flared with electricity.
"The heart of the ship," Catalina said as she silently appeared behind them. There was an old woman with them, hunched over and walking on a cane. Miouno looked at her with curiosity and then curtsied to her. "Good Morning." She said smiling.
The old woman smiled knowingly at the Oracle and curtsied back.
Suddenly, the room flared red and Catalina jumped over to the controls. The ship vibrated for a moment, "keep completely silent." She whispered. Renzo came down from an opening in the ceiling and nodded to Catalina.
Antonio and his father soon entered the room. "We saw the warning," Antonio whispered to Mamá. "We wanted to make sure everything was all right." Sinecio began pacing around the room as more tired looking gypsies from their clan entered. After 20 minutes a blue light shined over the room, the ship vibrated once again and everyone breathed a sigh of relief and emptied the room.
"What was that," Ami asked.
"Sarcasmoto must have sensed someone over head," Catalina said placing her hands over the electric ball.
"Obviously," said a sarcastic voice.
"That means he's okay," Sinecio said breathing easy. "As long as he can make us feel stupid then he is fine. Now Sarcasmoto, what happened?"
" They were looking for the Barbarian Queen," The ship said in a more serious tone. "They flew over the Moore but thanks to Catalina and her quick thinking they could not spot me."
"Ash yes," Catalina said, "a cloaking device, every gypsies ship should have one."
"Tell us of this Barbarian Queen," Mercury said. "We have been traversing this galaxy and have not touched down in 10 years."
Mamá stepped forward. "The Barbarian Queen is a beautiful gypsy who lead small attacks when the Pachementierre are doing especially terrible injustices. Among us, she is a hero. Among the Pachementierre, she is a criminal."
"So she fights them," Cupid asked.
"Yes." The old woman said sitting down. "None of us know what she looks like. But the Duke of Saturn has a reward on her head to fill many palaces with gold." The Old woman stopped and looked around. "I am so very fortunate." The old woman breathed, "To meet the Cleanser, the Queen of the gods."
The gypsies in the room held their breaths as the old woman began to change. Her skin firmed and browned to a shade of tan. Her back no longer stooped. Her cane fell to the floor as her eyes changed from gray to a brown so dark they were like the night sky. Her gray-white hair turned a deepest shade of black and her voice changed. Standing in front of them, was the exact replica of Catalina.
Everyone in the room knew without being told who it was. Only one person had the nerve to say it.
"Barbarian Queen," Miouno said firmly. "You sensed our arrival."
"I did," the woman said.
"Explain yourself," Ami said gently.
"You first," The woman smiled.
"I am the Cleanser, the Queen of the gods, the senshi and Queen of Mercury. These are my comrades." Ami then pointed to Mercury. "The Lord Mercury, the god of travelers and thieves. The Lord of Love, Cupid and the Oracle of Delphi, Highest Duchess of Earth and The One known as Beautiful Queen. We have come to take the child."
"I know," the Barbarian Queen said. "I just wanted you to share with the others. Now I will tell you my story. I am the fairy Gilamethana. The Wise Sorcerer Gandlebrim of Mercury sent me with the first child to care for it and I did. I hid the child among the gypsies. The day that I saw Catalina's nurse, one of my own fairies, being taken away by soldiers. I transformed myself into this old woman and grabbed her. After many a spell and many an incantation, which almost took away my own lifeblood, I became Catalina's future self. You, my child, are the Barbarian Queen."
Catalina looked shocked.
"Not only that but you are the child of the prophecies, the one to rule the planets whilst the senshi sleep. The one to help us bring about Liberation." Miouno added.
Catalina's future self touched Catalina's head. "Know what I know and be able to do what I do."
Catalina was strong and held her ground as the knowledge flowed through her. It poured through her veins, cold as ice and sank into the chasms of her brain. She became herself, she became the Barbarian Queen and she knew her destiny.
"I have only been kept alive until my mission was complete," the woman said. "Now it is time to go." She reverted back to her old woman form and sunk into the floor leaving her clothes behind. Catalina dived to catch her but Renzo caught her before she hit the ground harder then necessary and finally, Catalina gave in to her powers and blacked out.
Chapter Six:
Let There Be Council
Catalina found herself in a hammock, the most beautiful face she had ever seen staring back at her. "You are the Cleanser," she said.
"I am," Ami responded. "Rest. There will be council."
Catalina turned over and fell back asleep. Ami stood up and left the room. She found Miouno, Cupid, Renzo, Mercury, Antonio, and Sinecio gathered in the hall.
"Let there be council, " Ami said. "Call the sorcerer's, Mercury." Mercury bowed and swept off into the control room. "Miouno, go with him." Ami said softly. "Roma," she said turning to Antonio, Renzo and Sinecio "take care of your own."
The trio of gypsies stepped into her room and Ami changed back into her original garments. A long blue gown of watered silk. "You are beginning to see through the eyes of a goddess." Cupid smiled.
"Thank you." Ami said looking into his eyes. There was something she didn't notice before in them, something that had just recently appeared. The haunted look of a tortured dreamer.
"For what?" Cupid asked still not understanding.
Ami couldn't bring herself to say that he had sacrificed herself for her again as he had in a far away memory of an adventure passed. The memory of a boat and an angry goddess and a senshi driven mad with jealousy. "I can't." She said turning away to the control room. Cupid followed her silently and when they entered they found the four sorcerer's already there.
"You foresaw this did you not?" Cupid asked them.
"I did," said Ridunda, now in blood red robes, "and so did Gandlebrim."
"Forsee something else for me," Miouno said softly. "When can we usurp the usurpers?"
"I can tell you that the best time is drawing near." Said Cannelo in his robes of canary yellow.
"I can tell you that the days pass and the song is still played in the ears of those who listen with malicious intent," said Alexia said in her robes of hunter green the hood covering her face. "Their guard will be down with a push from the Emperors intended."
"Intended?" Ami asked.
"Your counterpart," Gandlebrim said from behind a hood of ocean blue. "The Queen of Mercury, othersiwse known as Natalia Pachementierre, is his favorite among the Queens. You must know these people and places if you are to conquer his majesty."
"Quite right," Said Ridunda. "The Queen of Mars is Virgilia and has her eyes set on the Emperor. The Queen of Venus is Genivieve, the Queen of Jupiter is Antoinette, The Queen of Saturn is Rachella, The Queen of Neptune is Gizelle and the Queen of Uranus is Moira. Other formidable people are the Duke of Saturn, The Count of Venus and the Grand Vizier of Mars. They are three of the Emperors councilors and only confidants. The Duke's name is Romero and the Counts name is Victor and the Vizier is called Mercushio."
"Do not forget the ringmaster of the circus," Cannelo said. The Kings cousin, Duchess Silvia. The cold, unfeeling, self absorbed wench that she is. As for other romantic entaglements amoung them I couldn't tell you. Though I know that these creatures do feel love, they were angels once after all. And they do have hearts. When there is a heart there is an opening to goodness."
"I could tell them about that," Cupid said. "As for romantic entaglements I have all the answers. The Duke of Saturn is obsesessed with catching the gypsy outlaw that they call the Barbarian Queen. This obsession consumes his soul with a fire that burns night and day. The Duchess is courted by the Grand Vizier, though I am afraid she dislikes him quite a lot. Not only that but the Vizier, I fear is the most decent one of the lot. At times I believe he is not a fallen angel at all. At times I believe he was dragged down with the rest by mistake."
"And how do we plan to usurp the usurpers?" Mercury asked.
"I can make sure that Natalia and Silvia are not let out of my site whilst you try and find a time and place to rush the Star of Tanamandela. Not only that but you must be sweet on the Emperor, Cleanser. Whisper in his ear that he need not fear the prophecies. Get his guard down." Said Alexia.
"I will help Alexia," said Cannelo. "Ridunda and Gandlebrim must go and awaken creatures on the planets. Cupid and Mercury can act as servents and councillors so that when as Miouno and The Cleanser busy the royalty they can search for clues for the correct time and place to prudently start the rebellion."
"The Child," Gandlebrim began, "will gather the awakened creatures and begin the rebellion when commanded. She will know how Miouno and Ami must act at all times. She will know where to go and what to do, she will be your guide. Catalina is wise on the ways of the planets. Not only that but she can continue her legacy as the Barbarian Queen."
"And who must we watch for the most?" Ami asked.
" The most truly evil of them all is the Emperor Xavier himself. The one who fancies himself after King Endymion. I am sorry Cleanser but is is your job to watch him." Gandlebrim said. "The others can be termed by one word. Virgilia, who facies herself as Queen Rei, can be termed "jealousy". Genivieve, who fancies herself Queen Minako, can be called "frivolousness." Antoinette, who fancies herself Queen Makoto, can be termed "indulgence." Rachella, who fancies herself Queen Hotaru, can be termed as "spoiled." And the Gizelle and Moira, who fancy themselves Queen Michiru and Queen Haruka, can be termed "hostile and self riteous." Queen Natalia, who fancies herself Queen Mercury, can be termed as "vanity."
"How awful," Ami whispered.
"When will we strike?" Asked a voice from the entrance. Catalina stood there looking composed and wild at the same time.
"Are you sure you're are willing to do this?" Asked Alexia.
"I can do it because I have already done it. I have heard of the exploits of my future self I know that I can be this outlaw that Duke hunts so obsessively."
"Perfect." Gandlebrim said happily. "Ridunda, come with me. Cannel and Alexia will travel with you to kidnap Natalia and Silvia. Our mission is just begining." Gandlebrima and Ridunda disapeared and the spaceship began lifting off by itself. Ami could here its taking to itself under its breath; "perfect just perfect why do I even bother with these people when all I'm going to do it get myself shot down. I might as well say goodbye to that garage on Mars...."
"Where will we find them Mercury?" Ami asked as they cleared Pluto and shot into space.
Mercury again put his map down on the floor and the planets spun before him with constellations shining bright. "They are on Uranus." He said, "all of them. I believe they are planning their Equinox celebration."
"To Uranus Sacrcasmoto," Renzo said as he entered the room with Antonio and Sinecio. "Antonio, Sinecio I can understand if you do not feel the need to come."
"In fact," Catalina said. "It would be preferable if you did not. I do not want innocents in the way. Sarcasmoto, open your extra pod."
"But..." Antonio began to ague but one look from Catalina shut up him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But I simply cannot have anyone who might be used against me come along. What if you get captured?"
"What about Renzo?" Antonio argued.
"I need to come." Renzo said. "I wouldn't go back if Catalina asked me because she knows that she needs me."
Sinecio entered the pod muttering "who ever heard of a gypsy forsaking another....never in all of my liftime have I....."
Antonio gave Catalina a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you," he said and he entered the pod without another word.
"Where is Cupid?" Ami asked. "He disappeared after the meeting."
"He might be with Miouno," Mercury said. "She's trying to take a nap...unbelievable."
"Its more believeable than you think," Ami said. "And how did you know that?"
Mercury motion to his arm, "at the showdown in the Dominican Republic. Miouno got hurt and I gave her some of my blood so now I know where she is no matter what. That is why I was so astounded when she disappeared after dinner the other day. Because I knew she was on Olympus but I didn't know where."
"I see," Ami said. "And does she know about this?"
"Of course," Mercury answered. "And she's not comfortable with it at all as you can imagine."
"Then I suggest you make it possible for her to go somewhere and not be tracked." Ami said leaving the room. "It would be so much nicer for her."
Mercury didn't respond and Ami didn't stand around long enough to hear one. She went to the room with hammocs and found Miouno sleeping soundly. Cupid hovered over her about two feet sitting in lotus position reading scroll. As soon as Ami entered the room the scroll disapeared with a popping noise and Miouno turned over in her hammoc.
"Oh," he said peacefully. "Its you."
" Reading Cupid?" Ami asked hovering with him. "About what?"
He laughed, "Your hovering. I think my mother and I are the only ones who have a habit of doing that all the time." He said. "I am reading about reactions to the movement of the stars."
"Interesting," Ami said looking over his shoulder at the parchement that had reappeared. "Mercury and I just wanted to know where you two disappeared."
"Someone had to tell Miouno when to sleep," Cupid said in a dreary voice. "She doesn't sleep when we are asleep as well, she refuses to."
"I know," Ami said sadly. Again she couldn't bring herself to tell him what he had done for her. She disapperated and found herself back in the control room. Mercury stood nobly looking into outerspace and pearing at the stars. In the distance Ami could see the planet Uranus advacing on them. Soon, things would begin.
Chapter Seven:
Usurping the Usurpers
The spaceship landed on Uranus quietly. The upper part of Uranus was city, a metropolis of extreme's. It reminded Ami of a Tokyo in the sky, bustling people and tall dark skyscrapers. Light shone from many windows and there were iron roads in the purple sky. There were not many people walking for they were all in spacecars or on trains. But there was a large black castle in the distance that Ami knew belonged to Queen Moira. Ami thought of Star Wars Episode One and the busy planet of Courescant. A private smile parted on her face, she missed her friends so much. The movies remeninded her of them.
The two sorcerer's left the ship first. They would stalk the Duchess and the Queen invisibly and them put them under s spell. They would then contact Ami and Miouno and the Oracle and the Cleanser would apparate there. Switch clothes and the like and assume their identities. Slowly they woudld infiltrate Renzo, Catalina, Mercury and Cupid in as their councilors and servents.
After three hours of waiting Ami and Miouno were finally contacted telepathically. Mercury found their exact loaction and Miouno and Ami held their hands as they apperated into the unknown.
______________________________________________________________________
The palace was definately more inviting inside than it was out. The room that the Sorcerer's had led them to was green blue with white designs protruding from the lower part of the wall. There was a large canopy bed made of oak and blacony that looked out over the city. There was another door that lead to a private living room decorated in sea turqoise and blue. On the bed the two fallen angels sat unconcious and the two sorcerer's stood over them.
"Welcome," Alexia said. "We will take them from here. This is Miouno's room by the way. Maybe I ought to call you Silvia from now on. You must get used to it."
"I suppose so," Miouno said softly in a whisper. There was a knock on the door and a servent slid tray through a hole at the bottom.
"I used a summoning spell to get these." Cannelo said. "These are the plans to every palace in this solar system." He snapped his fingers and made copies. "Just in case you get split up," he added.
"Our mission is done," Alexia said picking up the two fallen angels. "Let us fly." Cannelo disaperated as Alexia left the room in the same manor.
" I guess we start now." Miouno said softly. She picked up the tray, it had a note on it.
Cousin,
The Grand Vizier Mercushio of Mars requests your presence in his drawing room. I suggest that this time you comply with his wishes, his support is very important to me.
Xavier
"What would Silvia do?" Miouno asked Ami. "Why am I asking you," she said sinking down on the couch, "you wouldn't know the answer any better than I."
"Yes but the other Queens may." Ami said. "Summon them to your quarters and drop some hints. Maybe they'll tell you something about our personalities."
"Wonderful thinking Ami," Miouno said. She changed out of her usual loose Oracle robes and into a beautiful Rennasaince typed dress she found in her closet. It was peach colored velvet with cream silk borders and sleeves that tightened at the top but became very loose at the bottom. The two wizards had left the crown of the two Queens sitting on the white bedspread so Miouno picked up a small diamond tiara with a blue symbol of Mercury and gave it to Ami. Miouno picked up a golden circlet with dimonds set into it. It was somewhat shocking to see Miouno in anything but loose fitting robes.
"At least she dresses like I used too." Miouno said. "Take your map and rush to your room. Change and wait for my summons." She said to Ami. "It is best that we act like we were not even together."
Ami nodded and swept out of the room. Three doors down and on the other side of the hall. She thought to herself. She opened the door to a beautiful blue living room with cheery wood coffee tables and Chinese vases. There were lillies in the center of the coffee table with a card attached to them. Ami picked the card up, this must be clue, she said to herself. I'll learn something from this perhaps.
Natalia,
I hope these flowers find you well my love. Until tomorrow.
Xavier
Well, Ami assumed, I guess he's very good to her if not to anyone else. She looked inside her room and saw a little bell to call her servents with on her night stand. The room was decorated much like Miouno's with a large bed and balcony with a wonderful view. Ami reached into the closet and pulled out a velvet gown of mignight blue and silver designs. The sleeves puffed at her shoulder but came down tightly on the rest of her arms.
There was a knock on the door and and a note was slipped under it with a tray.
Natalia,
Your presence is requested in my chamber. Come at once.
Silvia
She's good, Ami thought smiling to herself. And she followed the now familiar path to Natalia's room. She saw Minako, Rei and Makoto emerge from their rooms. She had to slap herself to remember that these were not her friends, they were Genivieve, Virgilia and Antoinette and she had to destroy them. Ami saw Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru rounding the corner from a neighboring hallway and had to push herself to remember that they were Rachella, Moira, and Gizelle.
They all entered Silvia's room without a word to each other but once they entered smiles broke out on their faces. "So what is it Silvia?" Virgilia asked sitting down beside Antoinette and Genivieve on a large couch.
"I don't have all day," said Moira coldly rubbing on her plain looked yellow satin dress, "so you had better make it quick."
Miouno rose to her challenge. "If you haven't then you may leave." The Queen's all laughed except for Moira and Gizelle who left the room immediately. "I received another summons from your Vizier Virgilia and I must say it is getting most tiresome."
"If you wouldn't lead him on only to drop him as you do then I don't think you would have this problem." Antoinette said grabbing at a bowl of grapes that sat on the coffee table in front of her.
"I find Mercurshio quite agreeable," Rachella said taking grapes from the bowl. Her dress of purple velvet and gold tickled Antoinette's nose and she laughed.
"Of course you do," Virgilia said, she wore a gown of pink muslin and gold and she now tickled Rachella's nose with it as she walked past her and said in a taunting voice, "in more ways then one. But I am afraid he prefers dear Xavier's cousin and won't even accept you advances."
Rachella threw a grape at Virgilia's head and Virgilia turned at her angrily. "Now now," Ami said. "Stop it you all. Jealousy is nothing to show amoung ladies. We all know each others secret desires, and we accept them for what they are even your desire to take my future husband dear Virgilia."
"Even that." Virgilia said calming down and smiling a mockingly sweet smile. "That however does not stop me from trying."
"And that does not stop me from putting you in your place every time you do." Ami said loftily. "Now Genivieve, how do you assess the situation, for we are not here to quarrel as some of you may think, but we are here to help dear...." Ami froze as she almost for got Miouno's name..."Silvia." She continued.
Genivieve stood up and dusted off her sky blue silk robes, straitened her crown of gold and sat back down. "I am sorry it was getting rather cramped there." She said. "Now, as for what I say. I say that Silvia accept. The urgency in your cousins hand was obvious. I can see the Vizier's patience wearing thin."
"No," Virgilia said. "The Vizier's patience will never wear. He is an angel amoung us devils."
"Too true," Antoinette agreed.
"Go see him," Ami said, "so that your cousin may have peace."
Miouno rolled her eyes and sat down on a love seat opposite the couch. "And how is the Duke doing," she asked Rachella.
"On his ever present hunt to find the Barbarian Queen I am afraid." She said in a disgusted voice. "Why will he not accept Genivieve's proposal of engagement?!" It seemed as if she was having a tantrum. Her fist smacked against the table and her tone was frustrated.
"I do not know," Ami said. "And you Antoinette, it seems you amoung us has the fewest problems."
"The Count Victor and I get on well and I have no complaints as long as my dwarf slaves dig and my people are quiet." She responded yawning. The moment Antoinette had said Victor, Rachella looked at Miouno with a secretive smile. "I am afraid this council has interrupted my beauty sleep. I must excuse myself dear Silvia for it is late and I must go."
"I will go also," Genivieve said. "I suggest you say goodnight to the Emperor before you go to sleep Natalia. He seemed out of sorts today and I am sure you can cheer him up."
" I know I can," Ami said faking a sly smile.
The girls giggled and left leaving Virgilia and Rachella with them. "Go see the Vizier," Virgilia said softly. "I fear he is the only thing that keeps the people of Mars from revolting. I would like to see him happy for once." She left the room with Rachella trailing behind her.
Ami shut the door behind them and laughed. "That was amazing."
"And the award for best preformance goes to.....Mizuno Ami." Miouno said through gales of laughter.
"Oh no no no," Ami said. "You were quite good. Especially the bit with Moira."
"Oh but I was only a supporting actress," Miouno said. "You hid your emotions perfectly and you didn't cave at seeing your friends. And the bit about being ladies and jealousy and all that rot was perfect. So you get the award."
"Well," Ami said still laughing. "I would like to dedicate the award to all the little people....and my best supporting actress Chiba Miouno."
"Wait," Miouno said putting her finger to her lips. "I thought I heard something. I must go see the Vizier and you my cousin. Hurry." Ami took the map out of her clothes and looked at it. The Vizier, the Emperor, the Count and the Duke were staying at the other side of this wing.
"Ready?" Ami asked. Miouno nodded and they left the room traveling silently to the East wing. Ami knocked on the first door and Miouno on the door across from it. They opened on their own and no one stood behing them. The rooms they faced were dark. Miouno and Ami looked at each other and stepped inside.
Chapter Eight:
Two Very Important Meetings
"Xavier," Ami called as she stepped in the dark room. The moment she stepped over the threshold the lights turned on. Ami could find Xavier no where. The room was decorated completely in black, silver and white. There were black and white tiles on the floor and silver vases with white flowers in them. The white couches had silver and black throw pillows and the coffee tables were the darkest wood Ami had ever seen. She crept into the bedroom to find the largest bed she had ever seen. She had the urge to touch the covers and once she did she had a surge of blackness penetrate her heart. The Queen's were mean-spirited and traitorous within themselves but when they had to fight an outside enemy they banded together. But the King only loved three things, his power, Natalia and his cousin. He would do anything to keep his most precious things and damn the rest of the world if they go in his way.
Ami felt her hand that had touched the bed, she knew him now. By touching and concentrating on his bed she had absorbed his very being. Ami stepped out on the porch. Her view of the city was good but the Emeror's was amazing. She stood there straing at Uranus' Moons when suddenly she felt hands circle her mouth.
"Natalia." A voice that echoed Mamoru's said.
"Xavier," she turned and looked into the face that bit into her soul. It was Mamoru. his exact double standing in Napoleonic garb with white pants, knee-high black boots and a blue tail coat that was decorated with gold and silver medalions. A long blue cape that he wore slanted around his shoulders blew in the soft Uranus wind. Ami smiled at him. "I was looking for you."
"I know," he said softly. "I knew you would come to me tonight. I've been so worried today."
"Why," Ami asked faking concern. Xavier held out his hand and led Ami to his living room. They sat down on his couch and Ami leaned her head on his shoulder. "Now tell me whats wrong." Ami straitened the crown on her head and concentrated on it. In that instant she understood Natalia's personality.
"The prophecy." He said softly. "Jupiter is its 12th House and the winds of Mars blow east."
Ami smiled at him, "is that all?!" She asked sitting on his lap. She looked into his eyes and felt her heart break inside he was so like Mamoru but so vacant, so evil. She kissed his lips. "Is the song of Earth still playing?" She asked him innocently.
"Yes it is," he answered, "but I...."
"Shhh," Ami said. "Lets make this Spring Solstice the best ever! Even let your guards have break, we'll all celebrate. The Cleanser is not coming, that's just something the gods made up to scare you. Ignore the prophecies and make this Spring Solsitice the one in which we announce our engagement."
Xavier smiled a half smile. "All right." He kissed Ami and held her tightly, "thank you so much. You're the light of my world."
Ami got up and left throwing him a smile before she went. The second she reached her apartment she wiped her lips and called on Mercury, Cupid and Catalina to enter the palace tomorrow morning, first thing. She would need all the help she could get. After Ami had changed and settled into her bed a thought sprung on her and she sat up abruptly. What happened to Miouno?
______________________________________________________________________
Miouno entered the room head held high. I have never been hesitant about anything in my life. I most certainly will not start now. She stepped across the doorway and suddenly the room became light. There sat the Vizier on the couch looking over papers. He looked up at Miouno with a tired look in his huge black eyes. His skin was the color of amber and his hair was darker than night. Miouno gulped and approached him.
"I didn't think you would come Silvia," he said in an accented voice. His clothing was Napoleonic. He wore a red coat with white pants and high black boots. A long black cape sat on the couch beside him.
"Here I am," Miouno said trying to hide her nervousness.
"Sit down please," he said pointing to the seat beside him. Miouno picked up all her courage and sat gracefully down beside him. "I know you have sense so please look at these for me." He handed her a large block of papers, they were documents from her majesties treasury. Miouno looked at them intently.
"It seems that there has been an embezzlement." She said softly.
"I know," the Vizier said looking worried. "And I am afraid what Virgilia would do if she found out. I don't blame the people for embezzling. Its the only way they can survive."
Miouno looked into his trouble eyes and she longed to comfort him. From the moment she saw them she felt herself connected to him. But the crown on her head told her that she must do otherwise. "These are not my concern." She said stiffly.
"But they are," the Vizier said taking her hands, "because this is not just the Queen's money Silvia, its your dear cousins."
Miouno felt a surge run up her arms when he touched her. "Oh my," she said.
"I don't want these people to get hurt. But Virgilia will find out and she will hurt them when she does. I know that you detest her majesty's temper so please, give me council."
Miouno almost cried at the goodness of this fallen angel. How was he dragged down with the rest of them? Miouno asked herself.
"The only thing you can do is change these records." Miouno said picking up more papers. "I suggest we do away with these."
The Vizier looked at her and his eyes seemed to look right through her. He stared at her for a few moments and then shook his head. "I can't change them and if I don't have these records Queen Virgilia will be cross."
"Why can you not change them?" Miouno asked.
"Because I need the Emperor's seal and I know you have it. That is why I called you. I know the Emperor would never agree with this. I beg you to let me use your seal."
Miouno smiled with fake mischief in her eyes. "What would you do for me?"
"Selfish though you are, I love you," the Vizier said pacing around the room, "and you know that for anything from me all you need to do is ask."
Miouno closed her eyes and concentrated hard on what cold self- centered person would say. She felt the crown on her head envelope her. She knew Silvia.... and Silvia would never help the Vizier. Miouno was torn.
"I ... I," Miouno stammered.
" I knew this would be fruitless," the Vizier sighed putting his head in his hands. "But from the moment you walked in...."
"It will not be fruitless," Miouno found herself saying. She spread her hand over the papers and a black seal appeared over them. "There." She said softly and Miouno walked out of the room. Miouno paused as she stepped over the threshold and listened.
"That is not Silvia," she heard the Vizier say with conviction. "She has been usurped."
Miouno ran to her room without stopping wondering how it went for Ami. She tried not to think of the Vizier. She sat on her bed and put her head in her hands. "So his name is Mercushio," she whispered to herself.
Chapter Nine:
Beginning the Facade
Miouno woke up with Mercury staring down at her from a chair beside her bed. "What the hell are you doing here?" She groaned.
"Ami called me last night and so I am here. Catalina, Renzo and Cupid are with her right now."
"No," Miouno said. "Cupid will be my advisor." She said softly getting up suddenly. "I must speak with Ami. She doesn't know..."
"Know what?"
"You don't know either so just shut-up." Miouno said piercingly.
"Well now I know you're not a morning person." Mercury chuckled.
Miouno picked up a piece of paper that sat on her coffee table. She reached into her nightgown for a pen and then sighed realizing she wasn't wearing her robes. And when Miouno wore her robes she was never without a pen. "Here," Mercury said making a beautiful quill with a mock peacock feather appear in his hand. "I know you don't like real ones." He said as Miouno studied it.
Natalia,
Come see me at once, it is very urgent.
Silvia
She rang the tiny silver bell on her nightstand a tiny maid appeared in front of her. "Take this to Queen Natalia." Miouno said in a commanding tone. "This is Hermes," she said. "Make the others aware that he is my advisor and servent from now on." The little maid curtsied and then disappeared into thin air.
"You were shocked when she appeared on you like that weren't you." This was not a question, it was a statement. Mercury floated in the air slightly ahead of Miouno.
"I don't know how you know me so well," Miouno grumbled under her breath. Aloud to Mercury she said; "a bit."
Mercury put his feet on the ground. "Since I am your servent what can I get you? What do you want more than anything in the world?"
Miouno pretended to look pensative. "Well....you could go away..."
"I guess I set myself up for that one." Mercury said lying on Miouno's bed.
"Get off of that!" Miouno said walking over to him. Mercury smelled the sheets. "They smell like you. I might have to keep them. You know I don't have anything that smells like you? At least not presently. I have a lot of your things actually."
"What do you have," Miouno sighed. "You won't stop until I ask."
"I have a few of your gowns from the Silver Millennium. One of your old swords. Your old clavier from the baroque era. Your panpipes..."
"Hey I've been looking for those!" Miouno said.
Mercury snapped and a pair of ivory panpipes appeared on the bed. "Oh and thats not all," Mercury said. "I have your bow and arrows from the middle ages. Your favorite set of Hounds and Jackals from ancient Egypt. Your Gaelic harp from Ireland. One of your signed The Mamma's Pappa's Albums."
"I've been looking for that too."
"Your Gone With the Wind and Cleopatra movie posters and one thing that I think you will be glad I took."
"What would that be?" Miouno asked.
Mercury unfolded his clenched hand and an earing made of amber sat there. Miouno touched it softly and then took it. "How did you take these things?"
" I am the god of thieves," Mercury said. "But none of those things smell like you anymore so I will make you a deal."
"All right." Miouno said staring at the earing.
"Give me these sheets and I will replace them and I will give you something of yours back."
"Of course," Miouno said tears developing in her eyes as she stared at the earring. "Let me keep this." Miouno said softly.
"No." Mercury said, "I can't."
"Please just let me." Miouno said.
"No!" Mercury said more furiously. "I shouldn't have even let you know I had those."
"You have the other?!" Miouno asked. "Where?"
"I won't give it to you. I know what happened when you had those and I won't give them back. You'll just die of grief with the memories."
"I won't." Miouno insisted. "Please I have never asked you for anything before."
" No." Mercury said as he began grabbing for the earring.
Miouno apparated onto the other side of the room. "You're not taking this away. You can have anything of mine you want if you just let me keep this."
Mercury sighed. "I will never let you sleep out of my sight if you keep that. And you have to let me stay with you." Miouno still stared at the earring without paying attention.
"Of course," Miouno said softly still staring at the earring.
Ami suddenly became visible standing on the other side of the room. Ami opened her mouth but Mercury gave her look that told her not to ask and she stood there silently. "I've been watching you both." She said. "Now I would like to know why I was called here."
" Take care of Cupid." Miouno said putting the earring on her nightstand. "If he begins to sleep fitfully concentrate on his mind and simply say 'be gone' and his dreams will end. Make sure to be on the alert. I hate to give you this burden but Mercury just made me an offer I simply cannot refuse."
"I see why you're staying with him now. Any other time you would have sooner hanged yourself."
"Yes and I am still concerned with what I am getting into." Miouno said, "but I cannot back out now. Oh yes, and you had better keep Catalina with you if we get split up. You will be trailing the Emperor and where he goes pain follows."
"Its hard to imagine that." Ami said. "After how gentle he was last night..."
"Don't tell Cupid about that," Mercury said without a hint of sarcasm or amusement in his voice.
"I shan't." Ami responded.
"I will see you at breakfast," Miouno said as Ami apparated out of the room.
Miouno had her back turned to Mercury but she saw, without even turning around, as he tried to grab the earring on her nightstand. "Don't even try it." Miouno said in a threatening tone.
"How do you do that?" Mercury asked.
"Anyone can do it if they really try," Miouno said. "Now promise me you'll behave at breakfast no matter what happens. Make Cupid promise the same thing."
" I can't," Mercury said.
"Do it!" Miouno said in an annoyed voice.
"Fine," Mercury said. "You have my word."
"Good," she said. "Now I will get ready." Miouno clapped her hands and Mercury was moved into the other room. She dressed in a long gown of green velvet with ivory silk trim and put on her gold and emerald circlet.
"You look like you did the first time I saw you," Mercury said softly.
Miouno cleared her throat and walked out the door Mercury falling closely behind her. She found Ami, Cupid, Renzo and Catalina on her way out and made eye contact with Ami. A sign for strength.
The dining hall was a large room with white and gold tiled on the floor and gold curtain on the massive windows. Gold chandeliers hung from the cieling and there was a long table with a white table cloth in the center. Ami and Miouno sat on the high backed chairs next to the head of th table. Miouno on the right, Ami on the left. Suddenly the other royalty appeared, it seemed as is on cue.
Virgilia sat beside Miouno and Rachella across from her. Beside Rachella sat Genivieve and across from Genivieve sat Antoinette. Beside Antoinette sat a golden haired man who was obviously the Count of Venus. Across from the count sat the Duke of Saturn and beside him sat the Grand Vizier. The Emperor sat facing Moira at the opposite head of the table and Gizelle sat beside Moira and across the the Vizier.
Moira rang a small bronze bell and a group of dwarves brought in the breakfast.
"The slave trade of dwarves is going quite well," Antoinette said proudly.
"So it shows," said the Duke in a haunting voice. He looked much like Hotaru with dark black hair, violet eyes and a goatee at the end of his chin. The servents, including Catalina, Cupid, Renzo and Mercury sat at attention against the wall."
"And who are these handsom newcomers?" Asked Genivieve with a smile on her face.
"The darkhaired tall one is my new advisor and man-servent," Miouno said.
Genivieve stood up and walked over to Mercury. She touched his chin softly. "Oh Silvia dear can I borrow him please?" Mercury stood stone-faced against her attentions. "He'll have to learn some manners first though. Come look Rachella."
"Bring him here," Rachella said. "I do not stand for servents. Bring his friends also."
Genivieve snapped her fingers and Cupid, Renzo and Mercury followed playing the part of handsome servent prefectly. "And to whom does his blonde friend belong?"
"Their both mine," Ami said softly. "new servents always refresh me," she added. Xavier looked at her intently and took Ami's hand kissing it. Goose bumps ran through Ami's body.
"You needed one," he said. "But let us leave it at the relationship of servent and master Natalia."
"You needn't worry," Ami said kissing Xavier's hand.
Cupid had reached Rachella's seat and Miouno had to pinch herself to stop her eyes from making contact with his. "He's rather nice looking," Rachella said. "I might just ask if I may borrow him from you Natalia."
"You most certainly cannot," Ami said. "And I am sure that Silvia agrees that they are not to be borrowed."
"Too true friend, too true," Miouno said.
"And that gypsy girl?" the Duke of Saturn asked of Catalina.
"Mine also," Ami said. The duke got up and held her chin up as if expecting her face. "She is beautiful," he said. "Natalia, Silvia, Xavier, I wanted to invite you all to Saturn. It seems that we need to rest before the Solstice parties."
"That we do," giggled Antoinette.
"I will stay at the palace," Miouno said. "My brother may go with his fiance and her people."
"I was hoping," Virgilia said. "That you would come to Mars with the Vizier and I."
"Yes do," Antoinette said. "Then Genivieve, Victor, and I will only be a planet away. I am going to Venus before we all gather on Mercury for the begining of the celebration. When the solstice begins, Mercury is the best place to see the star of Tanamandela." Victor looked at Miouno and winked privately.
"That it is," Ami said. "And you Gizelle, what are your plans?"
"Why, to stay here with Moira of course. I will see you all on Mercury in five days time."
"Yes I suppose you will." Miouno said. "I accept your invitation Virgilia."
" Wonderful Silvia!" Virgilia said clapping her hands, "we leave this afternoon."
"On two conditions." Miouno interrupted.
"And that is?" Virgilia asked.
"I want to stay as far away from Mercushio as possible, understood?"
"Understood," Mercushio said softly, "but that doesn't mean I won't come to you."
Miouno rolled her eyes. "And I would like to see Jupiter and Venus also if its not to much trouble."
"Not at all." Virgilia said. "Mercushio can take you."
Miouno opened her mouth to argue but Ami interrupted her: "I think I will do quite a bit of site seeing myself. We can go to Neptune and all over Saturn."
"Sounds wonderful to me," Xavier said. "I just hope my dear Silvia is comfortable."
All eyes turned on Miouno and she concentrated hard on what Silvia will say. "If I am uncomfortable than I will make myself comfortable. It is as simple as that."
"Ahh yes," Victor said looking at Miouno in a way that made her slightly nervous. "Silvia's most famous line other than; 'get away from me Mercushio!'"
The table errupted with laughter at the poor Vizier's expense and the meal was soon over. Miouno pulled Ami to the side as she walked to her room. "Liberate the creatures of Neptune and Saturn. I will Liberate them on Mars, Jupiter and Venus. Send Catalina to the surface to awaken the creatures of Uranus."
Ami nodded and laughed as if Miouno had just told a funny joke. Miouno continued with a fake smile on her face. "When we meet at Mercury in five days time we will Liberate the Mercurians. Make sure that you can get Xavier to put his guard down for the Solstice or we are all lost. In the meantime I must pack, goodbye Ami. I will see you in one week. Tell Cupid I will see him soon and make sure Catalina stays strong."
"I will, she won't need it though. Not as long as Renzo is around he is her strength." Ami said pretending to laugh. "Send Mercury my goodbyes."
Miouno walked off into the distance to her room. Cupid crept up behind Ami and put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry." He whispered.
Ami took his hand off of her shoulder and whispered. "I won't."
That afternoon Ami, Cupid, Xavier, Romero, Rachella and Catalina saw Miouno, Virgilia, and Mercushio off onto the Mars ship. Antoinette, Victor, and Genivieve left at the same time.
"Goodbye dear cousin," Miouno said. Xavier swept her up into his arms and kissed her on the forehead. "Behave yourself."
"I will," Miouno smiled. "I always do."
The rest of the Queens and their entorages bowed to the Emperor and boarded their ships. Miouno looked down on Ami, Cupid and Catalina from her spaceship floating away and said her silent good byes to their true selves.
Ami immediately sent Catalina, Renzo and Cupid to Uranus' surface to awaken its creatures and rally them before they would leave that evening while she packed for the journey.
"So now?" Catalina asked as they reached the surface.
Renzo took a guitar out of a bag he had brought with him. "Play." He said.
Catalina picked up the guitar and began to play a melancholy flamenco dance. Renzo sang in the sorrowful voice that was used in flamenco. The almost screaming heartbreaking voice. Suddenly, the earth began to rumble and Cupid picked up the two gypsys and hovered with his wings above the desert land. They saw dragons come out of their dens, stretching and shaking their tails. Satyrs stretched and lept in the air, naiads from the other side of the planet began making their way to where they stood. Talking animals began to chatter causing a din to flow over the once silent place. In a fraction of a seconds dryads, centaurs, fauns and nypmhs appeared awaiting a statement from Catalina.
"The Cleanser is not here," she said. "I am the child for which the prophesy speaks however and I have awakened you." Somehow Catalina found the words to say in her mouth, from her heart.
"I am the Lord Cupid. I have traveled with the Cleanser far and come laden with a message. The time for reckoning has come and the Cleanser will soon find Equallibrium amoung the planets as she already has on Earth. Await instrunctions and preapare for war." Cupid said floating abover everyone else.
"Pretend like you haven't awaken of late," Catalina said. "Prepare yourselves in the silence of the night and pass this message on to those who have not heard. Know that the Cleanser is on the move and she will soon bring us all to justice and to the destiny that awaits."
"Be strong," Cupid said blowing a kiss to the creatures of the crowd. The affect of Cupids kiss was grand. You could see the creatures begin to prepare themselves and the moral go up. Just then, Cupid pulled them all back to Ami's room. It was time to reach Saturn.
Chapter One:
A Past Forgotten
__________________________12 Years Before________________________________
When the Earth is as silent as the moon
and our oppressors smell the oncoming doom
our liberation will reach us soon
and all will be as it was
When the Earth is quieted for future's sake
The old will rise and again awake
and the new queen will rectify the olds mtake
And we all will sing again
When the Earth shines with an icy light
An overlooked child will find her might
And along the side of a savior, will fight
To bring about our Liberation
When the Cleanser comes to set us free
From Pluto on to Mercury
our oppressors will hide themselves and flee
For she will save a Past Forgotten
"Say it again Nanny!" A little gypsy girl whispered with glee as her cart entered the town of Amoray in Venus.
" I cannot Catalina," her young nurse whispered. "We are entering the city."
" At least say the one about Venus, about how it looks." The little girl pleaded her dark eyes and hair shining in the bright Venusian sunlight.
Her nursemaid sighed; the child needed to her these poems, these versus. One day, when she learned the truth about her destiny she would know that she knew it along. Nanny cleared her throat and began with another poem.
Venus
How I wish for your arms around me Venus
For your whispers in my ear
to take away my longing dreams
to take away my fear
How I wish for your breath to caress me Venus
the smell of peach trees in the breeze
the way these plants fill our land with flowers
and fill our senses with ease
How I wish for your clouds to be under me, Venus
Like soft ground beneath my feet
Each sky city like a paradise
with gold paved in the streets
How I wish to smell your flowers again, Venus
The orange hibiscus blooming bright
the peach tree blossoms perfuming the air
and glowing in darkest night
How I wish to see your streams again, Venus
To see heavenly waterfalls
as to the uninhabited ground pure water descends
as it cleanses the castle walls
How I wish to see your sunrise again, Venus
The Orange sky shining bright in the morn
and then turning a brilliant aqua blue
surprising us as though we hadn't been warned
How I wish to see your Moonlight again Venus
The Moon Kingdom reflecting in your springs
as the night sky turns a deep dark black
and the nightingale begins to sing
How I wish to be your child again Venus
so you can comfort me as I cry
for you and for my long lost past
and the Kingdoms for which I died
"Is it really all true?" The little gypsy girl asked playing with her checkered skirts and bracelets around her wrists. "Is it true about the princesses and the moon Kingdom and that they died to save us all?"
"Shhh!" Her nanny hissed, "the Emperor's soldiers. They mustn't hear you talking like this!" A group of steel-clad soldiers looked at the wandering troop with disgust. That was no surprise however, they all seemed to have an extreme hate for the gypsy nomads.
"Well if it's the truth why won't they tell anyone?" Catalina asked as she always did.
"Because if everyone knew and awakened the magic and the creatures of old then the Emperor would loose his power." The little girls Nanny said quietly.
The little girls eyes shined. "Oh how I do love an intrigue! Tell me about Mercury, it's my favorite."
"As it should be," her Nanny beamed. "You area special child Catalina. You're ancestors originated from Mercury. From the capital city of Victoria." She began to speak of Mercury.
Mercury
Listen to the whispering wind
telling the story of a planet gone
Speaking to you of Mercury
and the dance to its endless song
The cities above and below the water
of purest white, silver and gold
palaces of ivory gleaming with light
filled with stories of old
Listen to the willow trees
the only trees who cry
they grew upon my Mercury
but weren't the only ones to die
The Turquoise grass they grew upon
did not live to tell the tale
of a planet of millions of lakes and rivers
flooding every hill and dale
Listen to the aqua lilies
so white upon the water
lift your ear to the lilies of the valley
who cry for the loss of their daughters
The underwater ocean city
is the only ocean to exist
Her name, it was Natalia
and she was more beautiful than a kiss
Listen to Natalia
the summer home of my family
the crystal pearl and gold palace is gone
destroyed, by those who wouldn't see
Remember the voice of Victoria
the city that I called home
filled with the beautiful water gardens
behind the ivory palace that I'd once known
Listen to the beautiful and changeable sky
blue as the water below
turning black when the sun would die
and the silver stars began to glow
Listen to this child of yours
can you see my oldest dream
my dream to see you once again
and to love you as you loved me
Catalina smiled with utter delight. "So its all real. When are we going to Mercury?" Catalina asked.
"As soon as we leave this place," her Nanny said uneasily watching as a group of soldiers began to follow them. "I have one last poem for you my dear." She said quickly as the soldiers advanced. "Remember you are special my child, remember your family is extraordinary. Do not be shocked if your future is aligned with those greater than all of us put together. Remember what I have taught you about our planets, our past."
Singing A Song
I Sing of song of planets
of shining spheres in darkness far
I sing a song of a Millennium
as bright and silver as a star
I sing a song of loveliness
and a memory that will never die
I sing a song of senshi
and the homes for which they cried
I sing a song of Venus
a planet full of love
a shining orange ball of light
flying up above
I sing a song of the happiness
that Minako Aino knew
of the joy with which she shared her planets love
in every thing she'd do
I sing a song of Jupiter
of thunder in the sky
a stormy world of dancing clouds
flying over free and high
I sing a song of the strength
that Kino Makoto showed
of a brave and worthy people
and the honor with which they flowed
I sing song of the planet Mars
of incense in the breeze
and the shining glaring desert,
that looked like sandy seas
I sing a song of the aura
that Hino Rei radiated
and the race of mysterious people
that her mother planet created
I sing a song of Mercury
of the waters endless song
of the docile green blue planet
and its journeys far and long
I sing a song of the wisdom
Mizuno Ami achieved
for when this lovely planet was lost
the angels in heaven grieved
I sing a song of sadness
for this shining dancing world
for as the wandering time went by
its sad destiny was unfurled
I sing a song of senshi
and the happiness they forgot
I sing a song of warriors strong
and the memory for which they fought
Catalina's nurse said this all very quickly as the soldiers got closer and closer with every advancing step. Even though Catalina was only five she could understand what was going on and she held on to her nurse with her small arms. As the only gypsy child with a nurse, she held on to her fiercely with an attachment that she would have given to the parents she never knew.
The soldiers attacked their cart grabbing her nurse and yelling obscenities to each other. Catalina tried to hold on to her nurse but the soldiers kicked her on to the ground and another gypsy from her caravan scooped her up and took her away. She watched her nurse scream as the soldiers dragged her away. "REMEMBER CATALINA!!" She cried helplessly. The soldiers kicked her until she was unconscious and dragged her away silently. Catalina cried until she had no more tears left inside her and then she resolved that she would never cry again.
Chapter Two:
The Cleansers Next Task
12 Years Later
Miouno and Ami sat together in Minerva's library immersed in ancient parchments. It seemed to Ami that Miouno was looking for something but as to what, as it was with everything that Miouno did, that was a mystery. I suppose you're not supposed to understand the Oracle of Delphi. Ami thought, turning her eyes back to the ancient Cunieform that only yesterday she discovered she knew how to read.
" You are not supposed to understand the Queen of the gods either." Miouno said quietly as she climbed down a ladder with many books in her hands. "And that is what you are for the next thousand years."
Ami sighed and sunk deeper into the maroon velvet chair that she sat in. Being the Queen of the gods felt so odd. As if she had lava running through her veins instead of blood. The power that she possessed, and didn't use, amazed and frightened her beyond imagination.
"Be prepared," Miouno said as she left the room.
Ami rolled her scroll back up and put it back where it belonged. "I guess I won't be reading this." When the Oracle of Delphi said 'be prepared' you were not to take it lightly.
_______________________________________________________________________
Dinner was the time Ami hated the most at Olympus. She couldn't beg off of it, it was mandatory for The Oracle and the rest of the gods to go, Jupiter had declared it to be so. Usually you didn't argue with Jupiter unless you liked being charred by a rampaging lightening bolt. Ami met Miouno in the hall; also sulking at the prospect of dinner even thought she would never admit it. She was too regal and of course, Ami had never told anyone how much she hated going, how could she expect Miouno to do anything different?
The first thing that was made strait when Ami arrived on Olympus was that she was not Jupiter's wife. Jupiter chuckled and set up a separate quarter for her. Ami had the feeling that Miouno had made this entire clear long before Olympus had been transported to another dimension so it would not be frozen with the rest of planet Earth.
Through twists and turns in beautiful marble halls Ami and Miouno reached the dining hall. The white marble floor stayed magically impeccable and the huge windows shed light over the whole room making the crystal chandeliers glow rainbows on the white walls.
Ami sat at her usual place at the end of the table. Jupiter occupied the other end where the older gods such as Uranus, Saturn, Pluto, and Neptune gathered. On Ami's side of the table Venus, Minerva, Mercury, Apollo, Diana, Mars, Cupid and Miouno gathered near Ami. This arrangement, however, was not always inviting.
Miouno sat at Ami's right hand and Minerva soon apparated across from her. Beside Minerva sat Mercury and across from him, Cupid. Apollo followed Cupid and across from him sat Diana, beside Diana sat Mars and across from him Venus soon made a sparkling entrance. Pluto sat beside Venus followed by Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune. Finally with a thunderous sound, Jupiter sat in his chair. Ami braced herself for the usual question.
"Why didn't you just apparate here love," Venus said as the food instantaneously appeared on the table.
" Why should she," Miouno asked Venus pleasantly. "There are some who would rather walk here."
"Like you for instance?" Minerva replied.
"Yes," Miouno answered. "You know the risks of apparateing in this dimension. You may end up somewhere entirely different then you planned, can't you Mars?"
Mars winked in her direction and nodded.
"One of these days your going to have to tell us what happened," Mercury said in an annoyed voice as Miouno and Mars tried to stop each other from laughing.
"I have an announcement to make after dinner." Miouno said suddenly making the room completely silent. "No Venus I'm not getting married."
Venus pouted and returned to her dinner plate. "You all know that these are treacherous times," Pluto said to her.
"Yes we must all be on guard for the correct time to begin the next mission of the Cleanser." Saturn agreed.
"Is that it Miouno?" Neptune asked seriously. "Are you ready to take the Cleanser back?"
"Eat," Miouno answered. "I will tell you after we are finished."
More then anything, the gods loved surprises. Especially when they didn't know what they were. Ami soon realized that being all-knowing isn't always very fun. There were only small surprises like when Cupid sneaked up behind her in the hall and even that was foreseeable just because that was the kind of thing Ami expected from him.
"Alright, we're done," Jupiter said as the table cleared itself. "Continue dear Miouno."
Miouno stood up as she always did when she had something important to say. "The sorcerer's are uneasy and the winds of Mars are blowing east. Not only that but Jupiter is in its 12th house and Orion is shining especially fiercely. We all know what this means."
The gods murmured in response. Ami found herself murmuring along with them in the knowledge that she knew what this meant also. There were no surprises.
"Have you not noticed that Pluto, the last free planet, shines especially brightly? And that three of the four hidden children have been killed? It is all in the prophecies that it will commence this way. The gypsy's talk among each other in soft whispers as the magical creatures of seven of the solar systems planets begin to awake from their enchanted sleep. The Cleanser is with us now and the oppressors of the planet continue to hear Earth's dance even after it has been paused. The signs are clear. The time is now."
Miouno silently left the room and Mercury rose to follow her. Minerva pulled him back to his seat and Ami went after Miouno instead.
"Miouno?" Ami called. Nothing answered her. Miouno had disappeared like that before. She seemed to vanish into walls. With her new powers, Ami could sense apparation and disapperation and she could sense nothing now.
Ami tensed, she was beginning to sense an apparation. She turned and was face to face with Cupid. "Have you found her," Cupid asked, obviously concerned.
"No," Ami said looking around.
"This really hurts her you know." Cupid said softly. "Loosing her family the first time was a crushing blow and now...when she goes back she's going to have to face that again."
"What do you mean?" Ami asked. "Mamoru is on Earth."
"So she hasn't told you yet." Cupid said to himself smiling. "Let me tell you," he said levitating a few feet off of the ground. "That the spirits of the great never truly die, they just rest whether they were greatly good or greatly evil."
"Will you please tell me what's going on?" Ami asked calmly.
Cupid kissed her. "Stop pretending like you don't already know and be what you are, stop fighting it Ami this is your destiny." Ami looked into his eyes as she began to feel the lava in her blood become cooler. She began to succumb to the inevitable and see through the eyes of a goddess.
Cupid looked at her and smiled. "Don't think thats the last time I'll do that."
Every time he does something wonderful he has to ruin it, thought Ami as she studied Cupid's eyes as they walked down the halls till searching for Miouno. Its as if he wants to ruin himself in my eyes. Does he?
Cupid seemed to sense her gaze, "why do you watch me My Queen." He asked seriously.
"Why do you ruin yourself with an intrigue that doesn't exist?" Ami asked him.
"Mmm good question," he said running his hands down the walls of hallway. "When you can answer it I will never show you this little intrigue of mine again."
" You're lying." Ami said flatly.
"Good," Cupid said with glee. "You're using your powers. Now tell me what am I going to do next."
Ami stared at him for a moment and million memories came rushing back to her all at once. Cupid's library, his temple in Greece....
"You're going to...."
Ami was interrupted by Mercury's angry footsteps down the hall. How Ami knew it was Mercury, she could only begin to imagine.
"You look for her Mercury?" Ami asked without turning her head to see him.
"Oh!" Mercury said joy plain on his voice. "You're using your powers now. Great! Can you find Miouno?" He asked hopefully.
"Miouno won't be found unless she wants to be," Cupid said in a far away voice. "That is her nature."
Mercury shot him a dirty look as Ami began to feel the walls as Cupid had been doing before. Cupid knew where Miouno was, he knew a lot about her. More then he would like to let on. Ami pushed back a section of the wall that was right next to a picture of Apollo and Diana.
Ami felt it ease back slightly but no more. Cupid tried and smiled, as he could not get it. Mercury tried his luck at the wall and with one tip of his finger had the wall back, uncovering a room where Miouno sat pouring over a large scroll.
"The last person you would expect to be able to open my door." She said smiling. "I trust Cupid has awakened you to the knowledge that you must use your powers my Queen." Ami nodded and Miouno stood up to greet them. "The power the people we love have over us is immense." Miouno said wistfully. "Don't feel so arrogant Cupid I may have been referring to something else."
Cupid smiled and winked at Miouno who pretended to be unamused. "I have brought you three here for a reason. I suppose you were wondering why you would be the only ones able to find and open this place."
No one nodded; they stood transfixed at Miouno's words. "Well," she said sighing and looking at Mercury. "For the discomfort of some." Mercury looked angrily at Cupid who looked longingly at Ami who looked pleadingly at Miouno who, finally, refused to meet Mercury's gaze once it shifted from Cupid to her. "Well perhaps all of us, our destiny's are intertwined in this mission and there is nothing we can do about it."
"Give us the update my dear," Cupid said. "Quote the prophecy's that you know so well."
"I ought to know them," Miouno said with fake haughtiness, "I wrote them." She cleared her throat and began....
"Fallen Angels." She said. "Hell's benefactors. Heavens exiles."
The mood in the room, which had been questioning had suddenly become somber and tense.
Miouno held out her hand and suddenly a globe of light appeared. The planets began to arrange themselves around this globe. Inside the globe Ami could see faces, the faces of the Sailor senshi and Mamoru and even Miouno, but two were missing. Sailor Pluto and Sailor Moon. "You are wondering what your comrades have to do with this mission, my queen. Wonder no more." The planets began to become dull and a particular star that faced each planet began to shine brighter then all of them.
"That is the Star of Tanamandela. You're father, Ami, discovered it and named it after your mother. Standing upon this star you can reach all the planets with your Cleansing power. These people you see in the globe are not your friends, but usurpers. They are fallen angels, the vultures of this galaxy. They ravaged the planets after the Silver Millennium and made themselves soveren over them, taking on the form of its former rulers so that they may be looked on with respect. Look closely and you will see however, the vacancy in their eyes so void of human compassion. The people of outer space are under their curse and see only what these fallen angels want them to see. There are few who are awakened to the spell of the Pachementierre family.
" Pachementierre," Ami said to herself. "That means peace on earth in Latin."
"It does, but these celestial beings are not for peace. And my dear Ami, Celestial does not always mean pure." Miouno continued. " These fallen angels were removed from heaven shortly after the Silver Millenniums collapse. They fed on the pain of the people and took them under their control. The Earth was safe so these beings put a cloud over the planets. A cloud of hate and deceit that made the Earthlings believe that they were uninhabitable and that their atmospheres were toxic. The planets retain their former beauty though the buildings are dark and the people are sad. "
"So the reason there is no Usagi is because there is no Moon Kingdom?" Ami asked.
"Exactly." Miouno answered. "The one who acts as my cousin is the High Emperor over them all."
"And Pluto?" Cupid asked.
"Has been shielded by gypsy tales of powerful beings spotted on the Moore of Asreil."
"Gypsies?" Ami said surprised.
"Yes," Miouno said. "These are a people that have not been infused with the curse of the Pachementierre. They usually do not come to the planets but for trade. The Gypsy people traverse the galaxy in living ships. They have their own government called The Kris. They have no need for the affairs of planet walkers. More often than not however, this people and all their clans gather on the Forest Planet, Pluto. They tell these tales so that they will not be bothered and because of deep superstition. There are three moors on Pluto, each one as vacant as the next. The Moore of Briannali, the Moore of Tempestusa and the Moore of Asreil. The first, the Moore of Briannali, is for Gypsy meetings, Tempestua is for times of trouble and Asreil is sacred and thought to be haunted. The rest of the planet is forest and can only be reached by navigating the four rivers of North, South, East and West." Miouno heaved a heavy sigh. "Pluto is our last stronghold for the gypsy people are our allies. Along with the Inner Sorcerers who have been in hiding for many years." Miouno looked around at the questioning faces.
"The inner sorcerer's are 2 men and 2 women from Mercury, Mars, Venus and Jupiter who were once on the council of their respective planets. They possess great power. They also hold the key to the child who will guard the planets until the senshi reawaken.
"Each sorcerer hid the child of the Chief advisors of their respective planets as the Pachementierre began to gain power. Alexia of Jupiter, Cannelo of Venus, Ridunda of Mars and the wisest of them all Gandlebrim of Mercury. They all hid the children separately and watched them secretly, sending with them servants to tell them and their children's children the truth of our past until Ami came to liberate them."
" Three of these children are dead," Mercury, said, "is that not true?"
"Sadly, yes." Miouno answered. "Or the line was not able to survive these many years in hiding."
"Tell us more about these Pachementierre," Cupid said.
"We don't know why they were exiled from heaven but we do know that when the nega-verse was released, they were made able to enter this solar system. In they came, feeding on the pain and suffering of the people left behind by the collapse of an era."
Suddenly the ball of light in the center of the room became bigger and Ami began to see the planets and the scene's Miouno was describing.
" They silenced the magical creatures and killed the minor wizards. On Uranus, they built metropolis' in the sky so that the people would never see the true ground and mayhap awaken a dragon. On Saturn, the planet of dragons, fairies and wizards, they have quieted them all. Even the castle walls have been silenced and torn down. The weather and landscape however, remains as it always has as Saturn's eaternal Autumn. On Neptune, they have silenced the mer-people, destroyed the underwater cities and the planet that is completely sea is now traversed by ships. On Mars, the genies have been buried and the beautiful scimitars that Mars had been so famous for were melted down to make treasures for this evil people. On Venus the cloud cities have been ravaged and the nightingales no longer sing. The cherubs and Angels that played so freely there have rallied around Cupid and Venus telling them sad stories of destruction."
Ami looked at Cupid her turned away from her gaze. She used her powers to look around him and saw a worried look haze his troubled eyes. By the time Ami looked away she felt the salty drops rolling down her own cheeks as well.
"The castle walls of Venus are dry and the peach tree's do not bear fruit. On Jupiter the thunder no longer calls and the mountain cities no longer exist between the bridged rocky peaks. The people are forced to live in the valleys and the dwarves no longer dig for ore in the mountains. The trolls that once plagued the people have all been murdered."
"That's one good thing," Mercury said sarcastically.
" Their blood has run through the once pure waterfalls of the planet," Miouno continued, "and the people no longer drink. On Mercury the water nymphs and willow dryads, the mer-people and fairies, the sorcerer's and animals of voice have all been silenced. Natalia has been destroyed, its walls quieted and Victoria's palace has been reduced to rags compared to what it once was. The wise centaurs hide in fear at these evil beings. The gypsies have taken the unicorns to Pluto. The eagle's no longer fly over any of these planets, they sense the danger and they know the truth.
"All this, these creatures with evil yet awesome powers have done and they still continue to drain the planets of the little happiness they have."
"I will liberate them," Ami said in a determined voice as she watched the globe of scenes. "Take me to The Star of Tanamandela." Ami said.
"I am afraid it is not so easy." Miouno said. "These beings are not as self-assured as Juno. They read the prophecies and take precautions against them. The Star of your mother is barred by evil. We must find a time and a way to sneak on it. After you Cleanse the planets, there will be a battle between the gods and these beings. I know this to be true." Miouno sighed. Ami sensed a feeling, a feeling that Miouno didn't know something critical but soon she forgot about these thoughts and put her mind back on the task at hand.
"I will usurp the usurpers." Ami said quietly.
"We both will," Miouno said. "In the meantime we must meet with the four sorcerer's and the last child."
"And our purpose?" Cupid asked for he and Mercury.
"You will protect Ami and I and guard the Pachementierre's that we will capture." Miouno said. "And while Ami and I are keeping up appearances you will search for a way to reach the star. From time to time Ami and I will help you but it is most important that they believe that Ami and I are like them."
"Yes," Mercury said. "I understand. When shall we leave?"
"As soon as we can. I will call upon the sorcerer's to meet us on the deserted floor of Uranus, then we will proceed to find the child, finally, after that Ami and I will enter the royalty of the Pachementierre. The child is key we must find her, she knows how to fight, how to hide in a world that the gods have not dared to look upon for fear that they would scar their eyes."
Miouno clapped her hands and the room around them was gone. All four of them were standing in the hallway outside the now gone room.
"Ami, come with me. You must make contact with the sorcerer's I am not strong enough." Miouno said.
"You, not strong enough?" Ami looked at her and a tired expression clouded Miouno's eyes.
"I don't feel well." Miouno said. "I think I've been over doing myself." She touched her head as if it hurt just as Mercury advanced and took her arm.
"Ami can contact them herself." He said gently. "You haven't been sleeping have you? You're mortal remember, you need to sleep." He picked Miouno up and carried her down the hall. Ami watched as Miouno protested softly and in a tired voice that she didn't need his help.
"Now that girl doesn't give up," Cupid said laughing. "She's been suffering from insomnia these past couple days, its finally getting to her. Oh no, but she won't let fatigue get in the way of her feud with Mercury, gods forbid it. One day she'll realize how bull-headed she's being."
"Will you ever realize how bull-headed you are?" Ami asked sarcastically turning down the hall knowing where she was going but as with many things lately, not knowing how she knew.
"Wait," Cupid called apparating in front of her. "I want to go too."
"That's not such a good idea." Ami said stepping forward again.
"I was afraid you would say that so I decided I would only ask you to be polite. You know I'm going to follow you whether you want me to or not."
Ami envisioned where she wanted to be, she envisioned the massive windows in the grand hall, the throne room and the table for special occasions. And then she went, apparated. The most odd sensation for she said nothing before doing it, felt no planet power as she went. Amazing, she thought to herself as she reached on of the largest windows.
Ami summoned all the strength inside of her and called upon her powers. "Cannelo, Alexia Ridunda, Gandlebrim." Suddenly four of the windows in the hall flashed and glittered to life. Ami saw four hermits, each dressed in gray. One was a raven haired woman who looked about 50, the other was a large woman who looked as if she had giant blood in her and had long brown hair with white streaks in it, a man had deep gray hair and a goatee that twirled upward, and the last man had silver white hair with a beard that reached his waist and half moon glasses reaching the end of his crooked nose. Ami didn't know how she knew but she knew the first woman was Ridunda, the second Alexia, the first man Cannelo, and the second Gandlebrim.
"Greeting from the Queen of the gods, the Cleanser and the true Queen of Mercury."
Each Sorcerer turned to face her Ami knew that they saw her as if she was appearing to them. "My Queen." Gandlebrim said in a deep rich voice bowing on his staff.
"Your majesty," said Ridunda in a voice riddled with mystery.
"Your highness," Cannelo answered in a voice that cracked with age.
"Your Eminence," Alexia said, her voice husky and powerful.
"The Oracle of Delphi and High Duchess of Earth requests your audience on the floors of Uranus when Apollo reaches his peak in the sky tomorrow. Meet us directly below the center of the city. We have much to talk about and much to plan. Goodbye for now." Ami stopped the psychic connection and apparated outside of Miouno's door to tell her what she had done. She almost opened the door when she heard the sound of a chair being pulled across the floor.
"Please just go away," Miouno said in a tired voice.
"If I leave," Mercury responded truthfully, "you'll talk yourself out of sleeping."
" I am too tired to argue with you," Miouno said impatiently.
"But not to tired to write prophecies and make meetings. Go to Sleep!" Ami could just picture Mercury trying to convince Miouno to go to sleep. Sitting in a chair beside her bed while Miouno sat up and argued with him fatigue written all over her face and then finally laying down and putting her hands on her head as if she had a headache. Suddenly Ami realized that she was not imagining it, she was looking right through the wall and watching.
" I know that you refuse to fall asleep until you hear some music so I brought this." He picked up a guitar. "What do you desire to hear?"
" I can not believe I'm letting you do this." Miouno said rubbing her head again and yawning. "Play something relaxing...flamenco perhaps?"
" Very good taste my dear, and a very tall order. I wonder if my fingers can keep up with my voice."
"They can."
Mercury began to play the song and Ami was quite amazed that his fingers kept up with his beautiful voice. The picking that they had to do on the guitar was so furious but so calming that Ami even felt relaxed.
"Spying too?" Cupid asked from behind her, taking Ami by surprise.
"They're fun to watch." Ami said. "I can't believe he takes so much time to understand her to know what she likes. He loves her so much."
"And she enjoys it more than she says she does." Cupid agreed. Mercury stopped playing and the two gods standing outside the door saw that Miouno was fast asleep. Mercury bent down and kissed her cheek and she smiled as if dreaming a beautiful dream.
Mercury left the room and Ami and Cupid ran down the hall trying to stop them selves from laughing at their exploits. "I saw you behind there, both of you." Mercury said calmly. "I didn't tell Miouno because she was to tired to see and if she would have known she wouldn't have done as I asked of her."
"She was too tired to refuse." Cupid said trying, hopelessly, to keep a strait face.
"Yes she was." Mercury agreed. "Have you contacted the sorcerer's?"
"I have," Ami said. "We are to meet them tomorrow at noon under Uranus' main city."
"Perfect." Mercury said. "Miouno will be rather pleased."
In Miouno's room, Miouno dreamed of a beautiful girl of seventeen dancing among her people, the gypsies. Not knowing the future ahead of her.
Chapter Three:
The Four Sorcerers
Miouno woke up after a blissful 16 hours of sleep only to remember that Mercury had been the last person in her room. She groaned, kicked away her sheets and waited for Cupid to enter as she expected him to.
"So Miouno," Cupid said smiling at her.
"Silence." Miouno said turning to her bathroom.
Cupid chuckled and called after her, "if I've said it once I've said it one thousand times a minute...."
Miouno levitated a pillow behind Cupid and hit him on the head with it, hard. He blinked and she was already in the shower. Cupid left rubbing his and laughing.
_______________________________________________________________________
Miouno, Ami, Mercury and Cupid met in the corridor outside Miouno's room at half past eleven. "Ready for the beginning of act one?" Miouno asked solemnly.
"Oh but not all the actors have arrived yet," Mercury said. "We must wait until we reach the Emperor's home before we can begin the show."
"Very true," Ami said. "And one of our allies is missing."
"The child." Cupid nodded. "Shall we go?"
"We shall." Ami answered.
And so they went.
_______________________________________________________________________
They were under a large floating black metal mass that roamed above them. The landscape reminded Ami of the Southwestern United States. The sun scorched high where the buildings did not block it and there was a rustic beauty to the tan Earth. There were tall pillars of rock carved out of the ground and many caves in the tall canyons and mesas.
"This is only one half of Uranus," Miouno said. "The other half was more inhabited and looked much like the Mediterranean actually much like ancient Greece. Hot in the summer with cold winters and beautiful springs, wonderful for olive and grape growing. I remember, I received my first sword from this planet." Miouno stuck her hand right through the ground. "When on Uranus you must understand that there is no true ground. This is a part of the sky also. But it is called the ground because this is the closest you can get to the core."
" I hope I am not late," said a misty voice appearing in a shock of red smoke.
"Of course not Ridunda," Ami said eloquently. "We need only wait for your comrades."
"Wait no longer," Miouno said.
Three puffs of smoke, green, yellow, and blue followed in Ridunda's path. Alexia, Cannelo and Gandlebim bowed and curtsied for the party of four after Ridunda.
"Speak loyal servants of the crown," Ami said softly, "your word is of much importance."
"And hinder not the children in your tale." Miouno added.
"You Alexia the Mighty, speak first." Mercury said.
"Thank you your majesty she said removing the hood that covered her eyes and stepping forward. Her brown-gray hair shone red and white in the sunlight and the strength in magic flowed from her very being.
"I, Alexia the great Sorceress ask for your ears and patience." She began. "When my comrades and I joined together before the collapse of the Moon Kingdom we agreed that if anything should happen to the Chief advisors of each planet we would take their children and hide them. You see, like you wisest of all wise Chiba Miouno, Ridunda had seen many visions of the collapse of Silver Millennium. So we began to tense for the worst.
"The Chief advisor of Jupiter at the time was Farnecio Ollivander. He had a son named Bartemius." Suddenly the gods began to see visions of Farnecio, a strong looking bald man, being hurt in battle against Queen Beryl's minions. An image was brought to his young son and a younger looking Alexia, picking the child up and apparating it away from Jupiter.
"I took Bartemius and hid him, with a loyal nurse, among the naiads of Mercury." A tear formed in the Sorceress' eyes. "But when the naiads were hunted out Bartemius was found and his identity made known." Her head lowered, "He helped many good naiads escape but he was killed before the eyes of many."
Cannelo put is arm around poor Alexia and tried to comfort her in her loud sobs.
"I am sorry," Cupid said looking at the poor sorceress with concern. She stopped and raised her head. "I am to blame, I should not have chosen such a foolish place to hide the child."
"Cannelo the Brave," Ami said, "I wish to hear your tale now."
"The Chief Advisor of the planet Venus was Dequim Loreno. I hid his poor son Nikolas among the genies of Mars." He sighed a deep sigh, "two generations of his children came of my hiding before they were trapped in a cave with these captured genies and died a cruel death on Mars."
"Now you Ridunda the Insightful," Miouno said softly.
" I hid the child of Anabella Corien among the fairies of Saturn. They did there best to save Gwendolyn Corrien but their magic was not strong enough without the help of the dragons who still are in hiding as we speak. They do, however, still have the power to retain the eternal fall weather on the planet Saturn, making the conditions perfect for deep fairy magic."
"I see," Miouno said. "Now Gandlebrim the Wise."
The old man tucked his long beard into his robe and straitened his half moon glasses. "Rafaello Dominey was hid among the gypsies of the planets and I am happy to say that his great-great-great- granddaughter lives. Her name is Catalina and she is 17 years old. She has no idea of her identity however so finding her may be a task for magic."
"Understandable," Mercury taking a scroll out of his pocket. He put on the ground and immediately the planets began to form around it. "I suggest you continue living on as hermits until this is all over," Mercury suggested. "We will call upon your aid when necessary."
"At your service." Ridunda responded graciously at him.
Mercury closed his eyes, "she is on Pluto."
"So that's how he keeps finding me," Miouno whispered to Ami and Cupid.
"The gypsies are always moving from place to place and do not bother with the affairs of the planets, that is why this hiding place was ideal." Gandlebrim said. "But the fact that they are Pluto is unsurprising. It is almost time for the Spring Equinox, a time that brings much upheaval and celebration on the planets. The gypsies hold a meeting on the Moore Briannali and if things are unsure, the Moore of Tempestua."
"We will find her without a problem," Miouno said gratefully.
"Thank you very much." Ami told them.
"No," Cannelo said, "it is you we must thank, for helping our world Cleanser."
The Sorcerer's dissolved and the gods followed in suit. "To Pluto?" Ami asked Miouno when they found themselves back on Olympus.
"Yes," Miouno said. "Of course."
Chapter Four:
Finding a Guide
Catalina didn't know her last name. Most of the time she was just called GYPSY (!!) by those who didn't know her. Despite this fact however, she was surrounded by people who adored her and never had ever felt alone...except for once.
On Pluto's Moor of Briannali Catalina's family had landed their spacecraft called Sarcasmoto (the spaceship had adopted this name because of his cheeky ways and biting answers). Stepping on the beloved Briannali, 17 year-old Catalina did as she always did. She raised her hands high and whirled around her long skirts twirling with her and her bangles jingling in the wind. She eventually fell down on the ground with carefree dizziness, got back up and dusted off her brown skin, ran her hands through her long black hair and blinked her black eyes five times as a sign that all was clear.
Immediately, the rest of her family stepped out of the ship and other gypsies came out of hiding from the forests surrounding the Moore. As usual, Catalina's family was the last to arrive on Pluto so camp fires were made and spaceships came out of invisible mode.
A man came from behind Catalina, scooped her up and twirled her around, "wonderful to see you." He said giving her a warm kiss on the cheek.
"Reno!" She cried hugging him. Every gypsy here was family although they did have their disputes. But the Kris more often then not solved them. She brushed back Renzo's untidy black hair poking him in his bright green eyes gently as she always did. Everything here was a ceremony, a rite of passage.
The gypsy's clothing was a rainbow of colors as a huge bonfire was made in the middle of all the spaceships and the older men and women sat together sat together and began to tell stories. Suddenly, about seven little children ran up to Catalina and Renzo.
"Say a rhyme Cata!" A little brown haired girl named Andréa called.
The children all nodded and murmured in agreement so Catalina spread out her constellation printed skirts and sat down on the ground. "This is one of the ones my Nanny taught me when I was a little girl." She said to the children. "And it's true."
"Are all the poems you say true?" Asked a little boy named Doni.
"All of them," Renzo said playfully. "Every single one!"
"Even the ones about the princesses?" Andréa asked giggling and looking around the vast moor into the forests.
"Even those." Catalina said tickling the giggling girl. "Now, what do you want to here about?"
"I know!" Said a tiny girl sitting next to Renzo. "Tell us the one about poor Queen Selenity."
"Are you sure Lalita," Catalina asked, "that is a very sad poem."
"I am sure," the little girl said.
Farewell
Moon of magic moon of splendor
on your holy ground I cry
you kill me with your finish
in this poisonous goodbye
but it doesn't matter no its doesn't matter
if on your sacred ground I die
for my life has but one purpose
and now its done, so I will fly
Moon of beauty moon of spirit
I will save your mother Earth
for the children, for the planets
and to save us from this curse
and its not important, no its not important
if this brings me my last breath
for the last thing that I fear now
is my own insignificant death
Moon of wisdom Moon of wonder
I will say my last farewell
I know I face the light of heaven
not the burning pits of hell
but its all worth it, yes its all worth it
because in the end, not all is lost
and I can say I saved my people
and did not care what it would cost
By the end of the poem the children had tears in there eyes and were begging for more.
"Catalina," called her adoptive mother Luci.
Catalina ran towards the voice. Luci was very old and very wise. She sat around the bon-fire with a group of elderly people talking in hushed voices. Renzo followed Catalina but stopped just as Catalina entered the circle, and waited.
"Hello Mamá," Catalina said, "what do you ask of me?"
The old wrinkled woman spoke in but a whisper but her voice was so respected everyone was silent so she was heard by all. "I want you to tell them," Mamá said softly, "about the poem and the legend. My old mind is not quick to remember the verses as you are my child. Sit among us and debate with us."
Catalina looked around at the serious faces of the rest of the elders and felt worried. There was reason that she was here, and this was no ordinary meeting. "I can feel the urgency in this meeting Mamá, why are we not on Tempestua?"
The old woman nodded and smiled a grin that had not so many teeth. "I told you my dear child was wise," she said to the others. "We do not want to make the people uncomfortable. Now, tell us of the Cleanser, sit down."
"This tale was meant for the children," Catalina said. "But I suppose we were all children once so I shall begin."
The Cleanser
Children gather round
find a place and sit down
to listen to the story I tell
of an Oracle, a child
and a goddess gone wild
and the wickedness for which she fell
The Legends begins
with the many unforgivable sins
that the queen of the gods would transgress
So the Oracle of the past
worked diligently and fast
so that Juno's plans would not progress
A soldier was made
and plans were soon laid
That this senshi would save our world
the Cleanser she'd be
for an eternity
until Juno's plans were finally unfurled
Then the day came
when the Queen went insane
and sent a plague on the child of the moon
but the Cleanser would come through
for me and for you
and the trouble was over soon
An Oracle girl
of the Earths past world
soon would lead this senshi to her fate
for it was she who was the one
guided by stars and the sun
who with The Cleanser would relate
So when the Earth was silent
and its innards nonviolent
then the Queen will have been reborn
and The Cleanser of water
Mercury's daughter
to her throne will have been sworn
And soon it will come
When all that I've said is done
that our people will be free again
for the Cleanser of peace
the planets, she will release
and her blessing, upon us will send
"Armando," said Mamá to a wizened old gypsy man across the circle. "I suppose you know longer hear the Earths dance."
"I do not." Armando confessed. "The signs are here. The winds of Mars blow east and Jupiter is its 12th House."
"Now Catalina," another man named Rodolfo said to her. "What did your Nanny say to you before...she was taken away."
Catalina looked at her uneasily and Mamá motioned to Renzo to enter the circle and comfort her. These were the memories Catalina had tried her entire life to block out but to no avail. Her screaming nurse, the jeering guards. Mamá stooping down quickly to pick her up and take her away knowing that she could do nothing for Catalina's nurse. Catalina remembered crying until her eyes no longer had any tears in them. She sighed and straitened her necklace of gold circles that matched her head-piece and the one around her stomach.
"I remember her telling me that I was special. That I shouldn't be surprised if I was thrown into course with people much stronger then we can fathom." Catalina looked around.
"We are sorry we had to bring that up again my dear," Rodolfo said as Catalina struggled to hold back her cries, no matter how hard she cried though, not tears would come. They never would.
"May I be excused," Catalina asked as Renzo put his arm around her shoulders. The council agreed and Renzo helped Catalina up and walked her away from the circle.
"I am sorry." Renzo said softly.
"Not your fault." Catalina said in a dead voice. "I suppose they think The Cleanser is coming." Catalina walked ahead of Renzo to the campfire that Mamá's brother, Sinecio had made. Sinecio's son, Antonio, sat there humming but suddenly got up at Catalina's approach. He smiled, "Hello Cata, its so beautiful today no?"
"She's not in the mood," Renzo said warningly. Renzo was Catalina's best friend ever since she was born. The only one who hadn't left her since she was created. The only one who had stayed with her since the beginning.
"Don't call me Cata please." Catalina said softly. "Its for the children." They heard a call coming from the center of moor where the biggest bonfire was set up. And all the gypsies began to congregate there. Catalina got over her pain and raced Renzo there just in time to sit with Delia, another one of her friends from another clan.
The elders began to sit among the people and the Kris took their seats in front to address the meeting that they always had before the Spring solstice. Catalina barely listened as they droned on about things she knew would never change as long as the Pachementierre were ruling the planets, principally, the mistreatment of gypsies. It had been many a time when Catalina had to run for her life using all her skill and cunning to escape a group of soldiers or even sell something in the market. It was sad, but this was reality.
Renzo took his violin out from behind his back and Delia produced a pair of castanets. Haroldo Faa, one of the members of the Kris, smiled at the young people and ended the meeting. "Thank God," Catalina heard Antonio breathe to Delia. "I was falling asleep."
Antonio produced a guitar, Renzo began to stroke his violin and Delia gave Catalina her castanets. "I'll play guitar." She said. "You're better with these then I."
The young people began to play a flamenco tune of fast guitar picking and beautiful violin responses. The castanets tied it in all together. If one could describe music, it wouldn't exist so unless you have heard flamenco I cannot explain to you the amazing sound that came from the Moore of Briannali. Only know that it was so beautiful that Renzo handed off his guitar to someone else and took Catalina's castanet laden hand. They faced each other their foreheads almost touching and moved in a circle still very close. The gypsies erupted with applause as the song ended and Renzo and Catalina sat down.
The night proceeded in this fashion with Delia and Catalina switching instrument half way so that Delia could dance herself. Catalina soon forgot about her memories and her troubles and immersed herself in the music of her people. This how we have survived, she thought, by banding together and never forsaking one another. It is in this fashion that we have managed to live through the hate of these last generations.
That night Catalina stepped out of Sarcasmoto as she always did on the first night on Pluto. So far no one knew of these excursions. Catalina took her shawl to protect her from the cold night air and head towards the forest, following the West River to her destination.
Suddenly, she heard a twig break behind her. Is it a gypsy? She asked herself. But which? Most of us are not that loud. Catalina reached up and swung herself into a tree waiting for her stalker to follow her. As the person walked under the tree Catalina swung her herself down hitting him in the legs. The person fell to the ground with a tired groan.
"Oh my God," Catalina whispered. "I am so sorry Antonio." She would have known that groan anywhere.
He got up and dusted himself off. "Where are you going?"
"No where," she answered helping him up and helping him dust off his knee high boots.
"Thats the way to Asriel." He said with concern on his voice. "You shouldn't be going there."
Catalina rolled her eyes. "Of course not." She said sarcastically. "Go home. " She pushed him towards the spaceship and despite his protests he listened to her and went. He turned back as she reentered the forest, "you know I worry about you." He said sincerely. He kissed her on the cheek and went away. "I suppose you of all people not how to take care of yourself."
Catalina wandered back into the forest finally reaching her destination. The moore is quiet tonight, She thought as she stepped upon Asriel's soft ground. She began to be comforted by the supernatural forces there. Suddenly four balls of light appeared out of nowhere. Two of blue, one white and one a shade of turquoise. She heard four voices, two male, two female, in the distance. They began to approach her.
"Don't be afraid." Said a woman with blue black hair. She was a gypsy or was dressed as such. Catalina breathed a sigh, she was probably a fortune teller or a mystic coming to the Moor to feel its vibrations. However, there was something about her eyes. Something Celestial, godly.
The other woman with her black hair cascading down her back and a golden circle with flat coin-like shapes adorning her head and stomach. It was the same for the other woman. The both of them wore many bangles and large hoped-earrings like the other gypsy women. Their long skirts were brightly colored and heavily designed and their shirts did not cover their stomachs, this was not strange. But there was something bout this woman's eyes also. It was knowledge and wisdom that poured from the blue orbs.
The two men also showed themselves, one was blonde and blue eyes and did not look Roma (gypsy) at all. But his clothing and air of carefree love told Catalina differently. He wore a loose blue shirt that tucked in at his black pants. His black boots were identical to his partners and to Antonio's. The blonde's friend did look gypsy and was dressed as one in his loose fitting blood red shirt and black pants. He even had an earring in one ear. But yet, these two also had the look in their eyes. The godliness.
"You are not Roma," Catalina said steadily backing away.
"Take us to your people and you will then know the truth," The dark haired man said. There was something in his eyes that told Catalina to believe him and she was suddenly infused with calm as he reached out his hand to touch hers as a symbol of his peace.
Catalina led the way back to Briannali looking behind her every now and then at her silent companions. At the camp what was once silent was now full of roaring fires once again. Now that the night had risen to its peak and the children were safely in bed the young were out again, stoking fires and tuning instruments.
Renzo stood up and smiled at Catalina's approach across the moor but he looked at her questioningly when he saw the four people following her. She approached him steadily reassuring him with her eyes. "These are...." Catalina realized she had no idea what their names were.
"Ami," Miouno said pointing at Ami. "I'm Adela." She turned to Mercury and Cupid. "And these two are Eros and Hermes." Renzo looked at Cupid strangely and then smiled. "Pleased to meet you, excuse me but you do not look Roma." He said.
Cupid returned his smile, "but like you, Catalina, that is all I know of."
Catalina felt a surge run up her spine. She hadn't told him anything about herself yet he knew that she had no clue who she was or where she came from. Catalina looked at his blue eyes dancing in the firelight, they were still godly, still celestial.
"Anyway," Cupid said still smiling, "I dance like a Roma, if not anything." He took Ami's hand and started toward the firelight. Mercury took out a guitar and Miouno produced a pair of castanets.
Ami was pulled by Cupid before she knew what was going on. "What in the name of Jupiter are you doing," she whispered in his ear. "I don't know how to do this!"
"Yes you do." Cupid whispered back, "of course you know, you're the Queen." Ami felt her feet move close to Cupid's as Mercury began to strum the first few chords on his guitar. Miouno began to clickity-clack her castanets together and Ami felt herself moving as if she had danced this way all her life. Miouno began to sing in the language of the Roma. Ami marveled at Miouno's mastering of this music, of course Ami never asked how she knew. With Miouno it was best if you didn't ask.
"How did you know?" Ami asked as she twisted around Cupid, her hand in his.
"You should ask yourself the same question." He whispered jovially and the song ended as suddenly as it had began.
"Wonderful." Catalina said happily.
"Not as wonderful as you and Renzo's." Miouno said knowingly.
Again Catalina looked at her eyes. They were almost hidden by the smoke of the fire but the light from them was still the same, wise. Miouno rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"Are you all right Adela?" Catalina asked.
"She's fine," Mercury responded. "She just needs sleep."
" I most certainly do not!" Miouno said sharply.
"You do," said Cupid approaching the group. "We should set up camp somewhere around here. You see Catalina, our ship crashed and so we cannot go back to it."
"A sister is always quick to offer her home to her brother." Catalina smiled. "If Adela is tired she may rest on my ship."
"I do not need rest," Miouno responded in an even more tired voice. "Why do you insist?"
"Where is your ship," Mercury asked. Catalina pointed out the way and Mercury picked up Miouno and said; "Why must it always come to this you stubborn little girl." She immediately fell asleep and Ami and Cupid went, through gales of laughter, and followed them.
Chapter Five:
The Barbarian Queen
Miouno awoke the next morning to see Ami peering down on her. "I've never asked you about this before." Ami said slowly as she noticed Miouno rubbing her eyes. "Do you love him?"
Miouno walked across the room that was filled with hammocks. It had a high ceiling and a floor of metal. The door was also of metal and everyone else was sleeping. "I have been in love. This is most definatly not it." Miouno said firmly.
"How do you know you were in love the first time?" Ami asked. "Perhaps...."
"No." Miouno said softly.
"Have you always felt this much hate for Mercury? Always?"
"Yes, it is the type of annoyance that consumes ones mind. One that you can never fly from."
"Consumes ones mind?" Ami said to herself.
Suddenly one of the many hammocks rustled fitfully and Ami walked over to it. Knowing it was Cupid there though she couldn't see, not knowing how she knew, she just did.
"Stop." Miouno said. She rushed over to Cupid's side. "Be gone." She whispered. "Now you see why I mustn't sleep." Miouno said softly. "Cupid's dreams, he never remembers them but I know he is seeing something terrible. He is plagued with them every night. Cupid is my friend and I must protect him."
"I see now," Ami, said softly, "I didn't know."
"He blocked it from you," Miouno said softly staring down at him. "He didn't want you to know what he had been suffering through."
Ami put her hand on his cheek. "Its burning," she said astounded.
"Just as your cheeks were before, when you felt lava coursing through your veins." Miouno said. "These are your dreams. He took them from you Ami, he sacrificed his peace for you."
"You mean this plague is mine?" Ami asked. "He took it from me when...when."
"When he made you understand what you had to do. That kiss saved you from what he is going through now, these paranormal nightmares that he must bare all in your name. This lava that courses through his blood, he lives through it so that you needn't."
"What does it all mean?" Ami asked.
"You began to have this lava blood when the constellations were preparing themselves for your arrival. But there will always be strong forces that will wish you dead Cleanser, strong evil forces. They plagued you with these maladies as the time began. Cupid saw your discomfort when no other god did; he saw it and took care of it in his own way. Cupid knows that in those conditions you cannot Cleanse. He knew the only way to liberate you from this curse was to bring it upon himself. So he did."
Ami felt tears rampage down her cheeks. "I am so sorry." She whispered rubbing his cheek. "I am so sorry." She kissed his burning forehead. Cupid's eyes batted open and he sat up.
"Good morning," he yawned. He looked at Ami and smiled, "why ever are you crying? What depressing things did you say to her Miouno?"
Ami began to cry even harder and Miouno put her arm around her shoulders. "It is for a great love that she has been shown that she weeps." Miouno said to Cupid.
"I guess I've been beaten then," Cupid said good-naturedly. "Do wake up my Uncle."
"I am awake," Mercury said sitting in the hammock that Ami and Miouno had their backs turned to. "And I have been awake," he said and looked at Miouno. "May I have a word my dear?"
Miouno nodded. "What is it?" She whispered as Mercury pulled her to remote corner of the room.
"Why did you tell her?" Mercury hissed at Miouno. "You needn't have done that."
"She only loves him more." Miouno said softly, " and that is none of your concern." Miouno walked away careful not to wake any of the other people in the hammocks. She opened the door and beckoned for the others to follow her. How does she know her way? Ami wondered. She was asleep when she was brought on board.
The ships interior was completely metallic with several doors on each side of the halls until you reached an open room. Here there were large windows that spanned across the front of the room. Four seats sat under these windows side by side in a semi-circle shape. The controls to the ship were here and in the center of the circular room there was a dome that flared with electricity.
"The heart of the ship," Catalina said as she silently appeared behind them. There was an old woman with them, hunched over and walking on a cane. Miouno looked at her with curiosity and then curtsied to her. "Good Morning." She said smiling.
The old woman smiled knowingly at the Oracle and curtsied back.
Suddenly, the room flared red and Catalina jumped over to the controls. The ship vibrated for a moment, "keep completely silent." She whispered. Renzo came down from an opening in the ceiling and nodded to Catalina.
Antonio and his father soon entered the room. "We saw the warning," Antonio whispered to Mamá. "We wanted to make sure everything was all right." Sinecio began pacing around the room as more tired looking gypsies from their clan entered. After 20 minutes a blue light shined over the room, the ship vibrated once again and everyone breathed a sigh of relief and emptied the room.
"What was that," Ami asked.
"Sarcasmoto must have sensed someone over head," Catalina said placing her hands over the electric ball.
"Obviously," said a sarcastic voice.
"That means he's okay," Sinecio said breathing easy. "As long as he can make us feel stupid then he is fine. Now Sarcasmoto, what happened?"
" They were looking for the Barbarian Queen," The ship said in a more serious tone. "They flew over the Moore but thanks to Catalina and her quick thinking they could not spot me."
"Ash yes," Catalina said, "a cloaking device, every gypsies ship should have one."
"Tell us of this Barbarian Queen," Mercury said. "We have been traversing this galaxy and have not touched down in 10 years."
Mamá stepped forward. "The Barbarian Queen is a beautiful gypsy who lead small attacks when the Pachementierre are doing especially terrible injustices. Among us, she is a hero. Among the Pachementierre, she is a criminal."
"So she fights them," Cupid asked.
"Yes." The old woman said sitting down. "None of us know what she looks like. But the Duke of Saturn has a reward on her head to fill many palaces with gold." The Old woman stopped and looked around. "I am so very fortunate." The old woman breathed, "To meet the Cleanser, the Queen of the gods."
The gypsies in the room held their breaths as the old woman began to change. Her skin firmed and browned to a shade of tan. Her back no longer stooped. Her cane fell to the floor as her eyes changed from gray to a brown so dark they were like the night sky. Her gray-white hair turned a deepest shade of black and her voice changed. Standing in front of them, was the exact replica of Catalina.
Everyone in the room knew without being told who it was. Only one person had the nerve to say it.
"Barbarian Queen," Miouno said firmly. "You sensed our arrival."
"I did," the woman said.
"Explain yourself," Ami said gently.
"You first," The woman smiled.
"I am the Cleanser, the Queen of the gods, the senshi and Queen of Mercury. These are my comrades." Ami then pointed to Mercury. "The Lord Mercury, the god of travelers and thieves. The Lord of Love, Cupid and the Oracle of Delphi, Highest Duchess of Earth and The One known as Beautiful Queen. We have come to take the child."
"I know," the Barbarian Queen said. "I just wanted you to share with the others. Now I will tell you my story. I am the fairy Gilamethana. The Wise Sorcerer Gandlebrim of Mercury sent me with the first child to care for it and I did. I hid the child among the gypsies. The day that I saw Catalina's nurse, one of my own fairies, being taken away by soldiers. I transformed myself into this old woman and grabbed her. After many a spell and many an incantation, which almost took away my own lifeblood, I became Catalina's future self. You, my child, are the Barbarian Queen."
Catalina looked shocked.
"Not only that but you are the child of the prophecies, the one to rule the planets whilst the senshi sleep. The one to help us bring about Liberation." Miouno added.
Catalina's future self touched Catalina's head. "Know what I know and be able to do what I do."
Catalina was strong and held her ground as the knowledge flowed through her. It poured through her veins, cold as ice and sank into the chasms of her brain. She became herself, she became the Barbarian Queen and she knew her destiny.
"I have only been kept alive until my mission was complete," the woman said. "Now it is time to go." She reverted back to her old woman form and sunk into the floor leaving her clothes behind. Catalina dived to catch her but Renzo caught her before she hit the ground harder then necessary and finally, Catalina gave in to her powers and blacked out.
Chapter Six:
Let There Be Council
Catalina found herself in a hammock, the most beautiful face she had ever seen staring back at her. "You are the Cleanser," she said.
"I am," Ami responded. "Rest. There will be council."
Catalina turned over and fell back asleep. Ami stood up and left the room. She found Miouno, Cupid, Renzo, Mercury, Antonio, and Sinecio gathered in the hall.
"Let there be council, " Ami said. "Call the sorcerer's, Mercury." Mercury bowed and swept off into the control room. "Miouno, go with him." Ami said softly. "Roma," she said turning to Antonio, Renzo and Sinecio "take care of your own."
The trio of gypsies stepped into her room and Ami changed back into her original garments. A long blue gown of watered silk. "You are beginning to see through the eyes of a goddess." Cupid smiled.
"Thank you." Ami said looking into his eyes. There was something she didn't notice before in them, something that had just recently appeared. The haunted look of a tortured dreamer.
"For what?" Cupid asked still not understanding.
Ami couldn't bring herself to say that he had sacrificed herself for her again as he had in a far away memory of an adventure passed. The memory of a boat and an angry goddess and a senshi driven mad with jealousy. "I can't." She said turning away to the control room. Cupid followed her silently and when they entered they found the four sorcerer's already there.
"You foresaw this did you not?" Cupid asked them.
"I did," said Ridunda, now in blood red robes, "and so did Gandlebrim."
"Forsee something else for me," Miouno said softly. "When can we usurp the usurpers?"
"I can tell you that the best time is drawing near." Said Cannelo in his robes of canary yellow.
"I can tell you that the days pass and the song is still played in the ears of those who listen with malicious intent," said Alexia said in her robes of hunter green the hood covering her face. "Their guard will be down with a push from the Emperors intended."
"Intended?" Ami asked.
"Your counterpart," Gandlebrim said from behind a hood of ocean blue. "The Queen of Mercury, othersiwse known as Natalia Pachementierre, is his favorite among the Queens. You must know these people and places if you are to conquer his majesty."
"Quite right," Said Ridunda. "The Queen of Mars is Virgilia and has her eyes set on the Emperor. The Queen of Venus is Genivieve, the Queen of Jupiter is Antoinette, The Queen of Saturn is Rachella, The Queen of Neptune is Gizelle and the Queen of Uranus is Moira. Other formidable people are the Duke of Saturn, The Count of Venus and the Grand Vizier of Mars. They are three of the Emperors councilors and only confidants. The Duke's name is Romero and the Counts name is Victor and the Vizier is called Mercushio."
"Do not forget the ringmaster of the circus," Cannelo said. The Kings cousin, Duchess Silvia. The cold, unfeeling, self absorbed wench that she is. As for other romantic entaglements amoung them I couldn't tell you. Though I know that these creatures do feel love, they were angels once after all. And they do have hearts. When there is a heart there is an opening to goodness."
"I could tell them about that," Cupid said. "As for romantic entaglements I have all the answers. The Duke of Saturn is obsesessed with catching the gypsy outlaw that they call the Barbarian Queen. This obsession consumes his soul with a fire that burns night and day. The Duchess is courted by the Grand Vizier, though I am afraid she dislikes him quite a lot. Not only that but the Vizier, I fear is the most decent one of the lot. At times I believe he is not a fallen angel at all. At times I believe he was dragged down with the rest by mistake."
"And how do we plan to usurp the usurpers?" Mercury asked.
"I can make sure that Natalia and Silvia are not let out of my site whilst you try and find a time and place to rush the Star of Tanamandela. Not only that but you must be sweet on the Emperor, Cleanser. Whisper in his ear that he need not fear the prophecies. Get his guard down." Said Alexia.
"I will help Alexia," said Cannelo. "Ridunda and Gandlebrim must go and awaken creatures on the planets. Cupid and Mercury can act as servents and councillors so that when as Miouno and The Cleanser busy the royalty they can search for clues for the correct time and place to prudently start the rebellion."
"The Child," Gandlebrim began, "will gather the awakened creatures and begin the rebellion when commanded. She will know how Miouno and Ami must act at all times. She will know where to go and what to do, she will be your guide. Catalina is wise on the ways of the planets. Not only that but she can continue her legacy as the Barbarian Queen."
"And who must we watch for the most?" Ami asked.
" The most truly evil of them all is the Emperor Xavier himself. The one who fancies himself after King Endymion. I am sorry Cleanser but is is your job to watch him." Gandlebrim said. "The others can be termed by one word. Virgilia, who facies herself as Queen Rei, can be termed "jealousy". Genivieve, who fancies herself Queen Minako, can be called "frivolousness." Antoinette, who fancies herself Queen Makoto, can be termed "indulgence." Rachella, who fancies herself Queen Hotaru, can be termed as "spoiled." And the Gizelle and Moira, who fancy themselves Queen Michiru and Queen Haruka, can be termed "hostile and self riteous." Queen Natalia, who fancies herself Queen Mercury, can be termed as "vanity."
"How awful," Ami whispered.
"When will we strike?" Asked a voice from the entrance. Catalina stood there looking composed and wild at the same time.
"Are you sure you're are willing to do this?" Asked Alexia.
"I can do it because I have already done it. I have heard of the exploits of my future self I know that I can be this outlaw that Duke hunts so obsessively."
"Perfect." Gandlebrim said happily. "Ridunda, come with me. Cannel and Alexia will travel with you to kidnap Natalia and Silvia. Our mission is just begining." Gandlebrima and Ridunda disapeared and the spaceship began lifting off by itself. Ami could here its taking to itself under its breath; "perfect just perfect why do I even bother with these people when all I'm going to do it get myself shot down. I might as well say goodbye to that garage on Mars...."
"Where will we find them Mercury?" Ami asked as they cleared Pluto and shot into space.
Mercury again put his map down on the floor and the planets spun before him with constellations shining bright. "They are on Uranus." He said, "all of them. I believe they are planning their Equinox celebration."
"To Uranus Sacrcasmoto," Renzo said as he entered the room with Antonio and Sinecio. "Antonio, Sinecio I can understand if you do not feel the need to come."
"In fact," Catalina said. "It would be preferable if you did not. I do not want innocents in the way. Sarcasmoto, open your extra pod."
"But..." Antonio began to ague but one look from Catalina shut up him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But I simply cannot have anyone who might be used against me come along. What if you get captured?"
"What about Renzo?" Antonio argued.
"I need to come." Renzo said. "I wouldn't go back if Catalina asked me because she knows that she needs me."
Sinecio entered the pod muttering "who ever heard of a gypsy forsaking another....never in all of my liftime have I....."
Antonio gave Catalina a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you," he said and he entered the pod without another word.
"Where is Cupid?" Ami asked. "He disappeared after the meeting."
"He might be with Miouno," Mercury said. "She's trying to take a nap...unbelievable."
"Its more believeable than you think," Ami said. "And how did you know that?"
Mercury motion to his arm, "at the showdown in the Dominican Republic. Miouno got hurt and I gave her some of my blood so now I know where she is no matter what. That is why I was so astounded when she disappeared after dinner the other day. Because I knew she was on Olympus but I didn't know where."
"I see," Ami said. "And does she know about this?"
"Of course," Mercury answered. "And she's not comfortable with it at all as you can imagine."
"Then I suggest you make it possible for her to go somewhere and not be tracked." Ami said leaving the room. "It would be so much nicer for her."
Mercury didn't respond and Ami didn't stand around long enough to hear one. She went to the room with hammocs and found Miouno sleeping soundly. Cupid hovered over her about two feet sitting in lotus position reading scroll. As soon as Ami entered the room the scroll disapeared with a popping noise and Miouno turned over in her hammoc.
"Oh," he said peacefully. "Its you."
" Reading Cupid?" Ami asked hovering with him. "About what?"
He laughed, "Your hovering. I think my mother and I are the only ones who have a habit of doing that all the time." He said. "I am reading about reactions to the movement of the stars."
"Interesting," Ami said looking over his shoulder at the parchement that had reappeared. "Mercury and I just wanted to know where you two disappeared."
"Someone had to tell Miouno when to sleep," Cupid said in a dreary voice. "She doesn't sleep when we are asleep as well, she refuses to."
"I know," Ami said sadly. Again she couldn't bring herself to tell him what he had done for her. She disapperated and found herself back in the control room. Mercury stood nobly looking into outerspace and pearing at the stars. In the distance Ami could see the planet Uranus advacing on them. Soon, things would begin.
Chapter Seven:
Usurping the Usurpers
The spaceship landed on Uranus quietly. The upper part of Uranus was city, a metropolis of extreme's. It reminded Ami of a Tokyo in the sky, bustling people and tall dark skyscrapers. Light shone from many windows and there were iron roads in the purple sky. There were not many people walking for they were all in spacecars or on trains. But there was a large black castle in the distance that Ami knew belonged to Queen Moira. Ami thought of Star Wars Episode One and the busy planet of Courescant. A private smile parted on her face, she missed her friends so much. The movies remeninded her of them.
The two sorcerer's left the ship first. They would stalk the Duchess and the Queen invisibly and them put them under s spell. They would then contact Ami and Miouno and the Oracle and the Cleanser would apparate there. Switch clothes and the like and assume their identities. Slowly they woudld infiltrate Renzo, Catalina, Mercury and Cupid in as their councilors and servents.
After three hours of waiting Ami and Miouno were finally contacted telepathically. Mercury found their exact loaction and Miouno and Ami held their hands as they apperated into the unknown.
______________________________________________________________________
The palace was definately more inviting inside than it was out. The room that the Sorcerer's had led them to was green blue with white designs protruding from the lower part of the wall. There was a large canopy bed made of oak and blacony that looked out over the city. There was another door that lead to a private living room decorated in sea turqoise and blue. On the bed the two fallen angels sat unconcious and the two sorcerer's stood over them.
"Welcome," Alexia said. "We will take them from here. This is Miouno's room by the way. Maybe I ought to call you Silvia from now on. You must get used to it."
"I suppose so," Miouno said softly in a whisper. There was a knock on the door and a servent slid tray through a hole at the bottom.
"I used a summoning spell to get these." Cannelo said. "These are the plans to every palace in this solar system." He snapped his fingers and made copies. "Just in case you get split up," he added.
"Our mission is done," Alexia said picking up the two fallen angels. "Let us fly." Cannelo disaperated as Alexia left the room in the same manor.
" I guess we start now." Miouno said softly. She picked up the tray, it had a note on it.
Cousin,
The Grand Vizier Mercushio of Mars requests your presence in his drawing room. I suggest that this time you comply with his wishes, his support is very important to me.
Xavier
"What would Silvia do?" Miouno asked Ami. "Why am I asking you," she said sinking down on the couch, "you wouldn't know the answer any better than I."
"Yes but the other Queens may." Ami said. "Summon them to your quarters and drop some hints. Maybe they'll tell you something about our personalities."
"Wonderful thinking Ami," Miouno said. She changed out of her usual loose Oracle robes and into a beautiful Rennasaince typed dress she found in her closet. It was peach colored velvet with cream silk borders and sleeves that tightened at the top but became very loose at the bottom. The two wizards had left the crown of the two Queens sitting on the white bedspread so Miouno picked up a small diamond tiara with a blue symbol of Mercury and gave it to Ami. Miouno picked up a golden circlet with dimonds set into it. It was somewhat shocking to see Miouno in anything but loose fitting robes.
"At least she dresses like I used too." Miouno said. "Take your map and rush to your room. Change and wait for my summons." She said to Ami. "It is best that we act like we were not even together."
Ami nodded and swept out of the room. Three doors down and on the other side of the hall. She thought to herself. She opened the door to a beautiful blue living room with cheery wood coffee tables and Chinese vases. There were lillies in the center of the coffee table with a card attached to them. Ami picked the card up, this must be clue, she said to herself. I'll learn something from this perhaps.
Natalia,
I hope these flowers find you well my love. Until tomorrow.
Xavier
Well, Ami assumed, I guess he's very good to her if not to anyone else. She looked inside her room and saw a little bell to call her servents with on her night stand. The room was decorated much like Miouno's with a large bed and balcony with a wonderful view. Ami reached into the closet and pulled out a velvet gown of mignight blue and silver designs. The sleeves puffed at her shoulder but came down tightly on the rest of her arms.
There was a knock on the door and and a note was slipped under it with a tray.
Natalia,
Your presence is requested in my chamber. Come at once.
Silvia
She's good, Ami thought smiling to herself. And she followed the now familiar path to Natalia's room. She saw Minako, Rei and Makoto emerge from their rooms. She had to slap herself to remember that these were not her friends, they were Genivieve, Virgilia and Antoinette and she had to destroy them. Ami saw Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru rounding the corner from a neighboring hallway and had to push herself to remember that they were Rachella, Moira, and Gizelle.
They all entered Silvia's room without a word to each other but once they entered smiles broke out on their faces. "So what is it Silvia?" Virgilia asked sitting down beside Antoinette and Genivieve on a large couch.
"I don't have all day," said Moira coldly rubbing on her plain looked yellow satin dress, "so you had better make it quick."
Miouno rose to her challenge. "If you haven't then you may leave." The Queen's all laughed except for Moira and Gizelle who left the room immediately. "I received another summons from your Vizier Virgilia and I must say it is getting most tiresome."
"If you wouldn't lead him on only to drop him as you do then I don't think you would have this problem." Antoinette said grabbing at a bowl of grapes that sat on the coffee table in front of her.
"I find Mercurshio quite agreeable," Rachella said taking grapes from the bowl. Her dress of purple velvet and gold tickled Antoinette's nose and she laughed.
"Of course you do," Virgilia said, she wore a gown of pink muslin and gold and she now tickled Rachella's nose with it as she walked past her and said in a taunting voice, "in more ways then one. But I am afraid he prefers dear Xavier's cousin and won't even accept you advances."
Rachella threw a grape at Virgilia's head and Virgilia turned at her angrily. "Now now," Ami said. "Stop it you all. Jealousy is nothing to show amoung ladies. We all know each others secret desires, and we accept them for what they are even your desire to take my future husband dear Virgilia."
"Even that." Virgilia said calming down and smiling a mockingly sweet smile. "That however does not stop me from trying."
"And that does not stop me from putting you in your place every time you do." Ami said loftily. "Now Genivieve, how do you assess the situation, for we are not here to quarrel as some of you may think, but we are here to help dear...." Ami froze as she almost for got Miouno's name..."Silvia." She continued.
Genivieve stood up and dusted off her sky blue silk robes, straitened her crown of gold and sat back down. "I am sorry it was getting rather cramped there." She said. "Now, as for what I say. I say that Silvia accept. The urgency in your cousins hand was obvious. I can see the Vizier's patience wearing thin."
"No," Virgilia said. "The Vizier's patience will never wear. He is an angel amoung us devils."
"Too true," Antoinette agreed.
"Go see him," Ami said, "so that your cousin may have peace."
Miouno rolled her eyes and sat down on a love seat opposite the couch. "And how is the Duke doing," she asked Rachella.
"On his ever present hunt to find the Barbarian Queen I am afraid." She said in a disgusted voice. "Why will he not accept Genivieve's proposal of engagement?!" It seemed as if she was having a tantrum. Her fist smacked against the table and her tone was frustrated.
"I do not know," Ami said. "And you Antoinette, it seems you amoung us has the fewest problems."
"The Count Victor and I get on well and I have no complaints as long as my dwarf slaves dig and my people are quiet." She responded yawning. The moment Antoinette had said Victor, Rachella looked at Miouno with a secretive smile. "I am afraid this council has interrupted my beauty sleep. I must excuse myself dear Silvia for it is late and I must go."
"I will go also," Genivieve said. "I suggest you say goodnight to the Emperor before you go to sleep Natalia. He seemed out of sorts today and I am sure you can cheer him up."
" I know I can," Ami said faking a sly smile.
The girls giggled and left leaving Virgilia and Rachella with them. "Go see the Vizier," Virgilia said softly. "I fear he is the only thing that keeps the people of Mars from revolting. I would like to see him happy for once." She left the room with Rachella trailing behind her.
Ami shut the door behind them and laughed. "That was amazing."
"And the award for best preformance goes to.....Mizuno Ami." Miouno said through gales of laughter.
"Oh no no no," Ami said. "You were quite good. Especially the bit with Moira."
"Oh but I was only a supporting actress," Miouno said. "You hid your emotions perfectly and you didn't cave at seeing your friends. And the bit about being ladies and jealousy and all that rot was perfect. So you get the award."
"Well," Ami said still laughing. "I would like to dedicate the award to all the little people....and my best supporting actress Chiba Miouno."
"Wait," Miouno said putting her finger to her lips. "I thought I heard something. I must go see the Vizier and you my cousin. Hurry." Ami took the map out of her clothes and looked at it. The Vizier, the Emperor, the Count and the Duke were staying at the other side of this wing.
"Ready?" Ami asked. Miouno nodded and they left the room traveling silently to the East wing. Ami knocked on the first door and Miouno on the door across from it. They opened on their own and no one stood behing them. The rooms they faced were dark. Miouno and Ami looked at each other and stepped inside.
Chapter Eight:
Two Very Important Meetings
"Xavier," Ami called as she stepped in the dark room. The moment she stepped over the threshold the lights turned on. Ami could find Xavier no where. The room was decorated completely in black, silver and white. There were black and white tiles on the floor and silver vases with white flowers in them. The white couches had silver and black throw pillows and the coffee tables were the darkest wood Ami had ever seen. She crept into the bedroom to find the largest bed she had ever seen. She had the urge to touch the covers and once she did she had a surge of blackness penetrate her heart. The Queen's were mean-spirited and traitorous within themselves but when they had to fight an outside enemy they banded together. But the King only loved three things, his power, Natalia and his cousin. He would do anything to keep his most precious things and damn the rest of the world if they go in his way.
Ami felt her hand that had touched the bed, she knew him now. By touching and concentrating on his bed she had absorbed his very being. Ami stepped out on the porch. Her view of the city was good but the Emeror's was amazing. She stood there straing at Uranus' Moons when suddenly she felt hands circle her mouth.
"Natalia." A voice that echoed Mamoru's said.
"Xavier," she turned and looked into the face that bit into her soul. It was Mamoru. his exact double standing in Napoleonic garb with white pants, knee-high black boots and a blue tail coat that was decorated with gold and silver medalions. A long blue cape that he wore slanted around his shoulders blew in the soft Uranus wind. Ami smiled at him. "I was looking for you."
"I know," he said softly. "I knew you would come to me tonight. I've been so worried today."
"Why," Ami asked faking concern. Xavier held out his hand and led Ami to his living room. They sat down on his couch and Ami leaned her head on his shoulder. "Now tell me whats wrong." Ami straitened the crown on her head and concentrated on it. In that instant she understood Natalia's personality.
"The prophecy." He said softly. "Jupiter is its 12th House and the winds of Mars blow east."
Ami smiled at him, "is that all?!" She asked sitting on his lap. She looked into his eyes and felt her heart break inside he was so like Mamoru but so vacant, so evil. She kissed his lips. "Is the song of Earth still playing?" She asked him innocently.
"Yes it is," he answered, "but I...."
"Shhh," Ami said. "Lets make this Spring Solstice the best ever! Even let your guards have break, we'll all celebrate. The Cleanser is not coming, that's just something the gods made up to scare you. Ignore the prophecies and make this Spring Solsitice the one in which we announce our engagement."
Xavier smiled a half smile. "All right." He kissed Ami and held her tightly, "thank you so much. You're the light of my world."
Ami got up and left throwing him a smile before she went. The second she reached her apartment she wiped her lips and called on Mercury, Cupid and Catalina to enter the palace tomorrow morning, first thing. She would need all the help she could get. After Ami had changed and settled into her bed a thought sprung on her and she sat up abruptly. What happened to Miouno?
______________________________________________________________________
Miouno entered the room head held high. I have never been hesitant about anything in my life. I most certainly will not start now. She stepped across the doorway and suddenly the room became light. There sat the Vizier on the couch looking over papers. He looked up at Miouno with a tired look in his huge black eyes. His skin was the color of amber and his hair was darker than night. Miouno gulped and approached him.
"I didn't think you would come Silvia," he said in an accented voice. His clothing was Napoleonic. He wore a red coat with white pants and high black boots. A long black cape sat on the couch beside him.
"Here I am," Miouno said trying to hide her nervousness.
"Sit down please," he said pointing to the seat beside him. Miouno picked up all her courage and sat gracefully down beside him. "I know you have sense so please look at these for me." He handed her a large block of papers, they were documents from her majesties treasury. Miouno looked at them intently.
"It seems that there has been an embezzlement." She said softly.
"I know," the Vizier said looking worried. "And I am afraid what Virgilia would do if she found out. I don't blame the people for embezzling. Its the only way they can survive."
Miouno looked into his trouble eyes and she longed to comfort him. From the moment she saw them she felt herself connected to him. But the crown on her head told her that she must do otherwise. "These are not my concern." She said stiffly.
"But they are," the Vizier said taking her hands, "because this is not just the Queen's money Silvia, its your dear cousins."
Miouno felt a surge run up her arms when he touched her. "Oh my," she said.
"I don't want these people to get hurt. But Virgilia will find out and she will hurt them when she does. I know that you detest her majesty's temper so please, give me council."
Miouno almost cried at the goodness of this fallen angel. How was he dragged down with the rest of them? Miouno asked herself.
"The only thing you can do is change these records." Miouno said picking up more papers. "I suggest we do away with these."
The Vizier looked at her and his eyes seemed to look right through her. He stared at her for a few moments and then shook his head. "I can't change them and if I don't have these records Queen Virgilia will be cross."
"Why can you not change them?" Miouno asked.
"Because I need the Emperor's seal and I know you have it. That is why I called you. I know the Emperor would never agree with this. I beg you to let me use your seal."
Miouno smiled with fake mischief in her eyes. "What would you do for me?"
"Selfish though you are, I love you," the Vizier said pacing around the room, "and you know that for anything from me all you need to do is ask."
Miouno closed her eyes and concentrated hard on what cold self- centered person would say. She felt the crown on her head envelope her. She knew Silvia.... and Silvia would never help the Vizier. Miouno was torn.
"I ... I," Miouno stammered.
" I knew this would be fruitless," the Vizier sighed putting his head in his hands. "But from the moment you walked in...."
"It will not be fruitless," Miouno found herself saying. She spread her hand over the papers and a black seal appeared over them. "There." She said softly and Miouno walked out of the room. Miouno paused as she stepped over the threshold and listened.
"That is not Silvia," she heard the Vizier say with conviction. "She has been usurped."
Miouno ran to her room without stopping wondering how it went for Ami. She tried not to think of the Vizier. She sat on her bed and put her head in her hands. "So his name is Mercushio," she whispered to herself.
Chapter Nine:
Beginning the Facade
Miouno woke up with Mercury staring down at her from a chair beside her bed. "What the hell are you doing here?" She groaned.
"Ami called me last night and so I am here. Catalina, Renzo and Cupid are with her right now."
"No," Miouno said. "Cupid will be my advisor." She said softly getting up suddenly. "I must speak with Ami. She doesn't know..."
"Know what?"
"You don't know either so just shut-up." Miouno said piercingly.
"Well now I know you're not a morning person." Mercury chuckled.
Miouno picked up a piece of paper that sat on her coffee table. She reached into her nightgown for a pen and then sighed realizing she wasn't wearing her robes. And when Miouno wore her robes she was never without a pen. "Here," Mercury said making a beautiful quill with a mock peacock feather appear in his hand. "I know you don't like real ones." He said as Miouno studied it.
Natalia,
Come see me at once, it is very urgent.
Silvia
She rang the tiny silver bell on her nightstand a tiny maid appeared in front of her. "Take this to Queen Natalia." Miouno said in a commanding tone. "This is Hermes," she said. "Make the others aware that he is my advisor and servent from now on." The little maid curtsied and then disappeared into thin air.
"You were shocked when she appeared on you like that weren't you." This was not a question, it was a statement. Mercury floated in the air slightly ahead of Miouno.
"I don't know how you know me so well," Miouno grumbled under her breath. Aloud to Mercury she said; "a bit."
Mercury put his feet on the ground. "Since I am your servent what can I get you? What do you want more than anything in the world?"
Miouno pretended to look pensative. "Well....you could go away..."
"I guess I set myself up for that one." Mercury said lying on Miouno's bed.
"Get off of that!" Miouno said walking over to him. Mercury smelled the sheets. "They smell like you. I might have to keep them. You know I don't have anything that smells like you? At least not presently. I have a lot of your things actually."
"What do you have," Miouno sighed. "You won't stop until I ask."
"I have a few of your gowns from the Silver Millennium. One of your old swords. Your old clavier from the baroque era. Your panpipes..."
"Hey I've been looking for those!" Miouno said.
Mercury snapped and a pair of ivory panpipes appeared on the bed. "Oh and thats not all," Mercury said. "I have your bow and arrows from the middle ages. Your favorite set of Hounds and Jackals from ancient Egypt. Your Gaelic harp from Ireland. One of your signed The Mamma's Pappa's Albums."
"I've been looking for that too."
"Your Gone With the Wind and Cleopatra movie posters and one thing that I think you will be glad I took."
"What would that be?" Miouno asked.
Mercury unfolded his clenched hand and an earing made of amber sat there. Miouno touched it softly and then took it. "How did you take these things?"
" I am the god of thieves," Mercury said. "But none of those things smell like you anymore so I will make you a deal."
"All right." Miouno said staring at the earing.
"Give me these sheets and I will replace them and I will give you something of yours back."
"Of course," Miouno said tears developing in her eyes as she stared at the earring. "Let me keep this." Miouno said softly.
"No." Mercury said, "I can't."
"Please just let me." Miouno said.
"No!" Mercury said more furiously. "I shouldn't have even let you know I had those."
"You have the other?!" Miouno asked. "Where?"
"I won't give it to you. I know what happened when you had those and I won't give them back. You'll just die of grief with the memories."
"I won't." Miouno insisted. "Please I have never asked you for anything before."
" No." Mercury said as he began grabbing for the earring.
Miouno apparated onto the other side of the room. "You're not taking this away. You can have anything of mine you want if you just let me keep this."
Mercury sighed. "I will never let you sleep out of my sight if you keep that. And you have to let me stay with you." Miouno still stared at the earring without paying attention.
"Of course," Miouno said softly still staring at the earring.
Ami suddenly became visible standing on the other side of the room. Ami opened her mouth but Mercury gave her look that told her not to ask and she stood there silently. "I've been watching you both." She said. "Now I would like to know why I was called here."
" Take care of Cupid." Miouno said putting the earring on her nightstand. "If he begins to sleep fitfully concentrate on his mind and simply say 'be gone' and his dreams will end. Make sure to be on the alert. I hate to give you this burden but Mercury just made me an offer I simply cannot refuse."
"I see why you're staying with him now. Any other time you would have sooner hanged yourself."
"Yes and I am still concerned with what I am getting into." Miouno said, "but I cannot back out now. Oh yes, and you had better keep Catalina with you if we get split up. You will be trailing the Emperor and where he goes pain follows."
"Its hard to imagine that." Ami said. "After how gentle he was last night..."
"Don't tell Cupid about that," Mercury said without a hint of sarcasm or amusement in his voice.
"I shan't." Ami responded.
"I will see you at breakfast," Miouno said as Ami apparated out of the room.
Miouno had her back turned to Mercury but she saw, without even turning around, as he tried to grab the earring on her nightstand. "Don't even try it." Miouno said in a threatening tone.
"How do you do that?" Mercury asked.
"Anyone can do it if they really try," Miouno said. "Now promise me you'll behave at breakfast no matter what happens. Make Cupid promise the same thing."
" I can't," Mercury said.
"Do it!" Miouno said in an annoyed voice.
"Fine," Mercury said. "You have my word."
"Good," she said. "Now I will get ready." Miouno clapped her hands and Mercury was moved into the other room. She dressed in a long gown of green velvet with ivory silk trim and put on her gold and emerald circlet.
"You look like you did the first time I saw you," Mercury said softly.
Miouno cleared her throat and walked out the door Mercury falling closely behind her. She found Ami, Cupid, Renzo and Catalina on her way out and made eye contact with Ami. A sign for strength.
The dining hall was a large room with white and gold tiled on the floor and gold curtain on the massive windows. Gold chandeliers hung from the cieling and there was a long table with a white table cloth in the center. Ami and Miouno sat on the high backed chairs next to the head of th table. Miouno on the right, Ami on the left. Suddenly the other royalty appeared, it seemed as is on cue.
Virgilia sat beside Miouno and Rachella across from her. Beside Rachella sat Genivieve and across from Genivieve sat Antoinette. Beside Antoinette sat a golden haired man who was obviously the Count of Venus. Across from the count sat the Duke of Saturn and beside him sat the Grand Vizier. The Emperor sat facing Moira at the opposite head of the table and Gizelle sat beside Moira and across the the Vizier.
Moira rang a small bronze bell and a group of dwarves brought in the breakfast.
"The slave trade of dwarves is going quite well," Antoinette said proudly.
"So it shows," said the Duke in a haunting voice. He looked much like Hotaru with dark black hair, violet eyes and a goatee at the end of his chin. The servents, including Catalina, Cupid, Renzo and Mercury sat at attention against the wall."
"And who are these handsom newcomers?" Asked Genivieve with a smile on her face.
"The darkhaired tall one is my new advisor and man-servent," Miouno said.
Genivieve stood up and walked over to Mercury. She touched his chin softly. "Oh Silvia dear can I borrow him please?" Mercury stood stone-faced against her attentions. "He'll have to learn some manners first though. Come look Rachella."
"Bring him here," Rachella said. "I do not stand for servents. Bring his friends also."
Genivieve snapped her fingers and Cupid, Renzo and Mercury followed playing the part of handsome servent prefectly. "And to whom does his blonde friend belong?"
"Their both mine," Ami said softly. "new servents always refresh me," she added. Xavier looked at her intently and took Ami's hand kissing it. Goose bumps ran through Ami's body.
"You needed one," he said. "But let us leave it at the relationship of servent and master Natalia."
"You needn't worry," Ami said kissing Xavier's hand.
Cupid had reached Rachella's seat and Miouno had to pinch herself to stop her eyes from making contact with his. "He's rather nice looking," Rachella said. "I might just ask if I may borrow him from you Natalia."
"You most certainly cannot," Ami said. "And I am sure that Silvia agrees that they are not to be borrowed."
"Too true friend, too true," Miouno said.
"And that gypsy girl?" the Duke of Saturn asked of Catalina.
"Mine also," Ami said. The duke got up and held her chin up as if expecting her face. "She is beautiful," he said. "Natalia, Silvia, Xavier, I wanted to invite you all to Saturn. It seems that we need to rest before the Solstice parties."
"That we do," giggled Antoinette.
"I will stay at the palace," Miouno said. "My brother may go with his fiance and her people."
"I was hoping," Virgilia said. "That you would come to Mars with the Vizier and I."
"Yes do," Antoinette said. "Then Genivieve, Victor, and I will only be a planet away. I am going to Venus before we all gather on Mercury for the begining of the celebration. When the solstice begins, Mercury is the best place to see the star of Tanamandela." Victor looked at Miouno and winked privately.
"That it is," Ami said. "And you Gizelle, what are your plans?"
"Why, to stay here with Moira of course. I will see you all on Mercury in five days time."
"Yes I suppose you will." Miouno said. "I accept your invitation Virgilia."
" Wonderful Silvia!" Virgilia said clapping her hands, "we leave this afternoon."
"On two conditions." Miouno interrupted.
"And that is?" Virgilia asked.
"I want to stay as far away from Mercushio as possible, understood?"
"Understood," Mercushio said softly, "but that doesn't mean I won't come to you."
Miouno rolled her eyes. "And I would like to see Jupiter and Venus also if its not to much trouble."
"Not at all." Virgilia said. "Mercushio can take you."
Miouno opened her mouth to argue but Ami interrupted her: "I think I will do quite a bit of site seeing myself. We can go to Neptune and all over Saturn."
"Sounds wonderful to me," Xavier said. "I just hope my dear Silvia is comfortable."
All eyes turned on Miouno and she concentrated hard on what Silvia will say. "If I am uncomfortable than I will make myself comfortable. It is as simple as that."
"Ahh yes," Victor said looking at Miouno in a way that made her slightly nervous. "Silvia's most famous line other than; 'get away from me Mercushio!'"
The table errupted with laughter at the poor Vizier's expense and the meal was soon over. Miouno pulled Ami to the side as she walked to her room. "Liberate the creatures of Neptune and Saturn. I will Liberate them on Mars, Jupiter and Venus. Send Catalina to the surface to awaken the creatures of Uranus."
Ami nodded and laughed as if Miouno had just told a funny joke. Miouno continued with a fake smile on her face. "When we meet at Mercury in five days time we will Liberate the Mercurians. Make sure that you can get Xavier to put his guard down for the Solstice or we are all lost. In the meantime I must pack, goodbye Ami. I will see you in one week. Tell Cupid I will see him soon and make sure Catalina stays strong."
"I will, she won't need it though. Not as long as Renzo is around he is her strength." Ami said pretending to laugh. "Send Mercury my goodbyes."
Miouno walked off into the distance to her room. Cupid crept up behind Ami and put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry." He whispered.
Ami took his hand off of her shoulder and whispered. "I won't."
That afternoon Ami, Cupid, Xavier, Romero, Rachella and Catalina saw Miouno, Virgilia, and Mercushio off onto the Mars ship. Antoinette, Victor, and Genivieve left at the same time.
"Goodbye dear cousin," Miouno said. Xavier swept her up into his arms and kissed her on the forehead. "Behave yourself."
"I will," Miouno smiled. "I always do."
The rest of the Queens and their entorages bowed to the Emperor and boarded their ships. Miouno looked down on Ami, Cupid and Catalina from her spaceship floating away and said her silent good byes to their true selves.
Ami immediately sent Catalina, Renzo and Cupid to Uranus' surface to awaken its creatures and rally them before they would leave that evening while she packed for the journey.
"So now?" Catalina asked as they reached the surface.
Renzo took a guitar out of a bag he had brought with him. "Play." He said.
Catalina picked up the guitar and began to play a melancholy flamenco dance. Renzo sang in the sorrowful voice that was used in flamenco. The almost screaming heartbreaking voice. Suddenly, the earth began to rumble and Cupid picked up the two gypsys and hovered with his wings above the desert land. They saw dragons come out of their dens, stretching and shaking their tails. Satyrs stretched and lept in the air, naiads from the other side of the planet began making their way to where they stood. Talking animals began to chatter causing a din to flow over the once silent place. In a fraction of a seconds dryads, centaurs, fauns and nypmhs appeared awaiting a statement from Catalina.
"The Cleanser is not here," she said. "I am the child for which the prophesy speaks however and I have awakened you." Somehow Catalina found the words to say in her mouth, from her heart.
"I am the Lord Cupid. I have traveled with the Cleanser far and come laden with a message. The time for reckoning has come and the Cleanser will soon find Equallibrium amoung the planets as she already has on Earth. Await instrunctions and preapare for war." Cupid said floating abover everyone else.
"Pretend like you haven't awaken of late," Catalina said. "Prepare yourselves in the silence of the night and pass this message on to those who have not heard. Know that the Cleanser is on the move and she will soon bring us all to justice and to the destiny that awaits."
"Be strong," Cupid said blowing a kiss to the creatures of the crowd. The affect of Cupids kiss was grand. You could see the creatures begin to prepare themselves and the moral go up. Just then, Cupid pulled them all back to Ami's room. It was time to reach Saturn.