Gonna keep throwing these up while I have the time and energy to write :D Halfway through the next chapter as well, and hoping to update Ready and Waiting within the next couple of weeks. I've had some lovely comments and reviews on this story. It's so rewarding to know people are enjoying it as much as I am, and I hope I continue to live up to your expectations, thank you so much! xxx
Makoto practically ran through the streets on her way back to the transport station. It had all been wrong. Had her last meeting with her mother been like this? They had exchanged goodbyes, had cried into each other's shoulders, but they had still been mother and daughter. It felt to Makoto now as though they were poles apart, the green vines that marked her skin forming an impenetrable wall between them, something it seemed her mother could not look past, reminded of it as she was every time she glanced at her daughter's face.
As she hurried through the steel gates of the station, the thunder of the storm boomed louder than it had yet that day and she jumped. As she moved towards the end of the station, where a journey to the moon was scheduled to leave within the next hour, she was accosted by a familiar figure in dark green.
She did not know his name, but the face was one she had seen around the palace that fateful night, and the uniform was one she recognised – he was part of the staff in Io castle. "Guardian Jupiter," he said, hesitantly, "Upon hearing of your presence upon the planet, King Jove the third has requested your presence upon Io castle." Makoto swallowed, aware that people were beginning to glance curiously at the pair of them. She tugged at the hood of her cloak, moving it to hide her marked cheek.
"When does King Jove ask for my presence?" she asked, half hoping that she would be able to name her duty as a reason for absence.
"Immediately, Guardian Jupiter. I am to transport you back to the castle, if it is convenient."
No, Makoto wanted to shout. It was not convenient. It was terrifying, horrifying and many other words to the same effect. But not to go would be an insult to one of the most influential men in the alliance, and Setsuna had at least managed to imprint upon them the importance of their acceptance within the circles of Kings and Queens. "Very well," she said, her voice shaking only slightly, "I shall accompany you to Io castle."
He held out a hand and green light engulfed them, pulling them away from the planet, further from the storm, and into the entrance hall of her father's palace.
"How did you do that?" Minako demanded, staring fearfully into the sky, "It's supposed to be impossible to transport onto Earth!" Ami was looking around in equal horror, but Serenity was simply looking at the strange, foreign beauty – the grass was green! How strange when compared to the soft golden grass of home. Flowers of purple and light blue, trees with brown bark…
"It's beautiful," she said softly. Minako glanced down and her expression softened a little. "Yeah… I guess it is." It was a long way from the great soaring cities of Venus. Everything here was natural, allowed its own beauty. Minako could appreciate that.
Ami moved tentatively forward, resting a palm upon the trunk of a stump to one side of the clearing. She jumped as a blue visor slid across her face. Frowning slightly, she held out her hand. Her computer flashed into existence and she flipped it open, tapping at the keys with extraordinary speed. "The composition of the plants is different," she said after a moment. "Yes it's carbon based life, but the evolution process branched off some millennia ago."
"The people!" Serenity said suddenly. "We should find the people!" She hitched up the skirt of her mercifully plain dress and began to run.
"Serenity!" Minako wailed, running after her. She caught up easily, but by then it was too late. Serenity had not needed to run very far to find anyone.
"Hello!" Serenity beamed at the tall, red headed young woman.
"Hello?" the woman replied cautiously.
"I'm Serenity, nice to meet you." She bowed, as was the custom upon the moon, and the woman frowned at her.
"Beryl," she said after a while. Minako and Ami hung back, changed from their fukus into plain dresses that, judging by the mysterious Beryl, would fit in far better on Earth.
"It's nice to meet you," Serenity said.
"Is there a reason you're in the woods in the middle of the night?" Beryl asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to get away for a bit." Beryl smiled.
"I guess I can understand that. Were you in the clearing just now?"
"Yes. It's beautiful there."
"It is that. Did you see anyone while you were there? An old woman, perhaps?"
"No, it was just us." Beryl seemed put out, a frown creasing her delicate features.
"Thank you then," she said. "I must return home before I am missed. Will you walk with me to the city?"
"Oh yes!" Serenity exclaimed, "I'd love to!" Beryl seemed bemused by this strange girl with long blond hair and pale grey eyes, and together they walked, talking a little about the plants and trees they passed. All the way Minako uttered a silent prayer to Selene and for once it seemed the goddess was listening, for Serenity never once mentioned the Silver Alliance.
"Oh my!" Serenity exclaimed as they reached the city. It was formed of white marble, beautifully carved into curves that seemed as natural as the forest from which they had just emerged. It was dominated by a stunningly tall building that could only be a palace. "It's amazing," Serenity breathed.
"Have you never been to Babylon city?" Beryl asked, frowning.
"No, but I will certainly come again."
"Not if I can help it," Minako muttered. Ami nodded firmly.
"I must leave you here," Beryl said, turning to Serenity. "I am pleased to have met you." She held out a hand and, hesitatingly, Serenity took it. Beryl shook her hand and left them alone in the quiet city.
"Serenity we must go," Minako said quietly, gently taking the Princess's arm. "It's dangerous here."
"She didn't seem dangerous," Serenity replied, scowling. "And I don't want to go yet. I want to explore."
"Highness, Earth is an unknown entity," Ami began. "We don't know what we might have to protect you from here, and it's more than likely it could be something stronger than us." She had her computer out once more now that Beryl had gone and she kept glancing up at the marble castle, squinting through her visor as though she could see something more. "There's a source of incredible power within the palace, almost as strong as the silver crystal itself. We need to leave."
Serenity hesitated, looking longingly at the palace, and at the gardens beyond, but one glance at Ami and Minako told her that no amount of pleading would make them change their minds. She closed her eyes and felt out for the same power she had used to cast them down to Earth, and when she opened them once more they were in the gold and silver gardens of the palace on the moon.
Makoto smoothed down her dress somewhat nervously. Her palms were clammy and she felt uncomfortably warm. The thick fabric of her dress had been a bonus upon Jupiter itself, but it was nothing of the sort in the well heated Io castle.
"You may enter," someone said. She glanced up in time to see the tail of a green suit whip out of sight behind the serving doors. She moved through into the throne room to find it almost completely empty. Both the great jade thrones were unoccupied, and it took her a moment to spot the King, sitting to one side at a small wooden table. The table was completely out of place in the room, and had obviously been moved in for this meeting. Jove nodded towards the only other empty chair and Makoto sat down, staring at her hands, crossed in her lap.
The silence was awkward, stretched as it was through the grand room. Finally, Jove coughed and spoke. "I understand," he began, "That this must be… difficult for you." Makoto wasn't sure how to respond to that. Did she lie and say it was fine? Tell him that she enjoyed the near endless training, the constant bruises and exhaustion it ensued? Did she tell him the truth, that she was terrified of the whole thing? That she nearly cried every time she caught site of herself in a mirror? That each night she dreamed of a new, violent end to her life?
She opted, instead, for silence. "I have," Jove continued, "Been considering your new place in the alliance." Again he stopped, taking his time to choose the right words. "I think, Guardian Jupiter, that it would be easier for you… and for the planet… if I were to legally recognise you as my daughter." Did he even know her name?
"That would, of course, make you a Princess of Jupiter. While there is no literal or immediate benefit to you from this, I think in the long run it would increase your standing with other members of the alliance." He stopped, and Makoto knew that it was her turn to speak.
"Makoto," she said at last, glancing up at him "My name is Makoto."
"Makoto," he said the name hesitantly, rolling it around his mouth. "A suitable name, I think, for a strong young woman." Makoto fixed her eyes on her hands again. "Anyway," he cleared his throat and, when she glanced up, Makoto realised that he too was keeping his eyes averted. She realised she could see herself in him; in his eyes, his stature, and his dark brown hair. "I thought it appropriate to tell you of this before I make the announcement next week."
"Thank you, highness," Makoto replied. Her fingernails were scruffy, she realised. Chewed down and dirty. She curled her fists up to hide them. "If I may, highness," she said at last, "I must return to the moon. I have duties to perform."
"Of course Gua-" he hesitated and then corrected himself, "Of course, Makoto. You are dismissed. He watched as she left, frowning after her. An unexpected development, for sure, and an embarrassing one, but at the same time Jove had to admit something to himself. There was a strange, electrifying power in the girl's presence. He had felt it, prickling through his skin when she entered the room, and there was no doubt in his mind that she would be a superb guardian to the young Princess Serenity.