A/N: Sorry for a month-long lack of updates. I've been busy in RL so I didn't really have the time to write a new chapter.
SnowCharms, Requiem of Fire, sailorashes, Muso-Bunny: Thanks for those who reviewed so far! I really appreciate it.:) I hope this is long enough, Muso-Bunny. I'm not really used to writing long chapters, so I can't promise anything about that.
For those who are reading this, please let me know what you think so far by leaving reviews. I always like hearing people's thoughts on what I put down.:)
Again, all characters in the Sailor Moon universe are not mine, only the plot of this story is.
RJRJRJRJRJ
"So how are you holding up, Fierra?" Two faces crammed in the small screen. Fierra couldn't help but smile at her friends', nay, sisters' antics.
"I am well. At least, as well as I can be given the circumstances," she answered. "How is the princess?"
"Well. She misses you. We all do," the petite blue-haired girl said, the ever-present gentle smile on her face.
"I miss you too," Fierra replied. "I think we might have been mistaken this time around, Agua. There is nothing suspicious here."
"What? We have not seen each other in a long time, with you all the way there, and the only thing you can tell us is that you find that place boring?" the curly brunette exclaimed, her voice disbelieving.
Fierra chuckled. "I'm afraid so, Astra. There is nothing here that would have amused you or Lux for long."
"The man you met? Do you have any idea who he is?" Agua inquired.
"I have an inkling on who he is, but I am not yet sure. I need a little more time, Agua," she hedged. Even though she retained her smile, this one was a little forced, testament of some inner emotion broiling inside her. Yet Fierra was not the kind to speak about what she felt so freely.
"I told you I should have been the one sent on the mission! Maybe I could have gotten he answers more quickly!" harrumphed Astra, her rosebud lips turned into a pout.
The genuine smile returned on Fierra's face. "Astra, little sister, you know I'm the one who is the only one who will be able to go through this," she replied, no hint of admonition or rancor in her voice. She was too used to her sister's impulsive nature to be affected by her words that were not meant to be malicious. "With Lux protecting the royal family, it is the second-in-command's responsibility to watch over the protection of the planets. Besides, I have greater control over my ability over you, and this is what we need for this mission. Control." She did not add that Astra's impulsive nature would have been a liability, especially given the sensitivity of the task she was assigned in.
"Are you pulling rank on me?" Astra mock-growled.
In spite of herself, Fierra gave a small chuckle. Astra did have the most amusing antics at times. You can always count on her to diffuse a tense situation. "Believe me, you would not enjoy being here. The man who has found me is just so infuriating! He seems to think that I should bow down before him because he happens to be the ruler of a small part of this planet. I can scarcely believe it!"
"So I think this means you like him, if he got under your skin like that," Astra teased.
Fierra gave an unladylike snort. "Hardly. He would get under your skin too, if you saw just how arrogant the man is."
"Temper, Fierra," Agua admonished.
"I am calm, do not worry so, Agua," Fierra soothed the blue-haired nymph. "Do not worry. You know I have full control over my emotions."
"That is what I am most worried about. Why not try to cut loose a little, Fierra? Even Lux is more relaxed than you are, and she is the one who leads us!" Astra said.
"We all have our personality quirks, little sister."
"Little? I am taller than you are, Fierra, and you are only older than me by three moons!"
"Sssh, Astra. Fierra was just teasing," Agua said, patting the taller girl on the shoulder. "We have to go now, Fierra. Promise you will keep us updated?"
Fierra nodded. "I will."
"And if anything happens, you will let us know, all right?"
Fierra sighed. "Yes, Agua. It might be so hard for you to believe, but I do know what my job is."
Agua colored. "I know. I did not mean it that way, Fierra. It is just… The queen and the princess do not know that you are down there, and there is the threat in that place that…"
"Agua, it will be alright. I hear footsteps. I will contact you again soon. Take care of the princess, and say 'hello' to Lux for me."
RJRJRJRJRJ
Jonathan knocked on the door, then cautiously turned the handle and peered inside. "Rei, is there something going on here? I thought I heard voices, and…"
He was taken aback by what he saw. There she stood, the girl who called herself Rei, standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. She was all alone. "Do you make it a habit to enter a woman's room without being given leave to do so, my lord?" Rei asked, her tone arch.
"I beg your pardon, but…" Jonathan began to speak, and then stopped. Why am I apologizing? He wondered. This is my home, so I have every right to enter any room I want! Still, there was something in her voice that made him want to kneel down and bow his head. This simple peasant girl made him want to genuflect. He stifled a wry laugh. Zachary and Nathaniel would have laughed at the thought, and even Kaelan would have cracked a smile at the thought of Jonathan make a fool of himself over a mere slip of a girl. What is it with this strange girl that affects me so? he asked himself. It is as though she cast a spell on me, he started to think, then berated himself for the foolish path his thoughts were taking. Magic was already dead.
"Well?" Rei's demanding voice cut through his reverie. "Are you just going to gape there the whole day?"
Jonathan shook his head, still bemused. "My apologies, Rei. I thought I heard voices in your room, and I thought I would check in on you."
"Well, now you have seen that it is just me here. You can leave now," Rei replied, her tone still haughty, the voice of someone who was used to being obeyed.
Jonathan had half-turned when he heard her tone, but stopped himself once again. This is ridiculous! I am king of this place, and I cannot allow myself to be ordered around by this chit! "Pardon me? Did I hear you just try to throw me out of my own house?" he asked, trying to imitate the high and mighty tone Endymion used when he met up with the houses that he did not like.
To his surprise, color flooded Rei's cheeks. "I do apologize, my lord," she said gruffly, and her apology stunned Jonathan once again. He would not have pegged her to be someone who would voluntarily beg pardon for something she had done. "I was surprised at your sudden intrusion. I did not mean to be so rude."
"Perfectly all right," Jonathan waved off her apology. "What were you doing here before I entered?" he asked curiously, and then cursed at himself for the question. He had been captivated to hear the sound of her voice and asked the question without thinking, only wanting to hear her dulcet tone again.
To his relief, Rei did not find anything strange about his question. "I was just singing a while ago," she replied, turning away from Jonathan's inquisitive gaze.
"Singing? What is it about?"
"Oh, just some tune. It must have been something from my childhood."
"Your childhood? Does that mean you are starting to recover your memories?" To his surprise, this thought made his heart clench.
"I am sorry, my lord, but I cannot say. I can scarce remember my childhood. It was just a song that crossed my mind a while back, and I thought to put words to the tune playing in my head."
"Would you mind singing it to me?" Jonathan asked.
At his question, Rei instantly bridled. "It is not for a man to decide whether to let women do something, especially tasks that she does not enjoy."
Jonathan was taken aback by the fierceness in her voice. "If I have given offense, I beg pardon. I honestly do not mean anything by that question."
He saw her take a few deep breaths before she spoke. "It is alright, my lord. Forgive me. It might just be due to tiredness. I think I would like to sleep now."
Jonathan looked outside the window, and then back at her, his expression incredulous. It was only a little past high noon. Surely no one wanted to sleep yet at such an early hour. Perhaps it is because she has not fully recovered from her ordeal, he reasoned. Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, he nodded and bowed curtly. At the door of her room, he paused, and then turned to her again. "May I call on you again later, to see how you are feeling?" he asked, his tone almost hesitant.
He saw Rei pause, her eyes widening at his question, followed by her cheeks turning slightly pink. She gave a small nod. "If it pleases you, sir."
"It will. I hope you have a good rest," he said. Bowing again, he moved out of the room. It was only when he had taken a few steps did he realize that this was the first time he actually had a decent conversation with Rei. For some reason, this made him grin widely, and he whistled as he walked the rest of the steps to go outside his palace.