Rei sighs heavily while flopping down onto her bed ungracefully. After her discussion with Amora, she felt drained. She'd somehow managed to get her magic to send her home again, but it had taken her a good five minutes of grumbling and muttered curses for it to finally work. Amora had snickered the entire time, making Rei flush in embarrassment.
Rei rolls to her side to gaze forlornly at the nightstand next to her bed. It's empty. There aren't any pictures, and there aren't any mementos from her… past/future. It feels a little lonely, staring at the picture frame free surface. Back… in the future, there had been a good handful.
Rei huffs and quickly turns away from the sight.
The door creaks, making Rei tense.
"Exura?" calls a soft voice.
Rei smiles slightly, sinking further into the plush down comforter. "Yes, mother?"
A wash of warmth envelopes her. Gentle footfalls patter across the stone floor to the edge of her bed.
"Are you well, Exura? You've been missing for hours. You even missed the evening meal."
Tears just prick the teens eyes. She sniffs subtly to try and hide her growing need to cry.
It feels positively wonderful to have a mother. She can even feel the warmth of her mother's love when she's just standing across the room. It is so refreshing, so relaxing, so… touching. She'd forgotten what it felt like. All those years… with just her grandfather… It feels so amazing… ah, the tears finally make everything blurry.
But now is not the time for that. Shaking her head quickly, she clears her throat and faintly brushes her fingers across her eyes.
"I'm fine mother. I was just visiting someone. I hadn't realized the time, so they invited me to dine with them."
A weight settles onto the corner of the bed, pulling the blankets tight between them.
"I sense that isn't all there is. What is really troubling you?" Gentle fingers stroke the dark hair settled on her back.
Trying hard to concentrate under the soothing touch, the black haired priestess tries to gather her thoughts. She'd talked with Amora, yes. She has Hotaru, to speak with about their plans… But she still has the unsettling weight of everything still upon her shoulders. She has yet to figure out how to break the news to everyone. Who should she begin with telling first, anyway? And how would she tell them? Wouldn't it be wise to inform her family first? And…
Actually… that idea isn't half bad.
Now, to sort through her memories and see if… Ah! Yes! There it is. Perfect!
"Mother… you know I have visions, yes?" she begins slowly. Though she'd been able to recall that she has them now as much as in her future/past, she wants to make sure that it isn't a taboo subject and that it is common knowledge.
"Of course dear. Is that what this is about? Did you have a vision?"
"Yes… I… I saw war, mother."
"War?" Though surprise coats the older woman's voice, she doesn't start or seem overly affected by it. "A war with whom?"
"… The Dark Moon kingdom."
The queen tilts her head to the side. "I have not heard of them."
"You wouldn't have," responds Rei. "They haven't announced themselves yet. There is time to prepare… but only if we act quickly."
"Is it that serious?" questions her mother. Her stroking pauses momentarily.
"Yes. It is most dire. It will mean the end of everything, if we don't act now."
"Everything?" pushes the queen, not fully understanding.
"Everything. From the outer reaches of our solar system to the very center. Every civilization will be destroyed… except for Earth. Earth shall be spared alone, because the Moon of Earth would cause a stalemate and force both sides to be in slumber until… Until it begins again, and the fight starts anew, far, far into the future."
"Surely there is no such group that has the power to overtake all of our solar system," starts the queen.
Shaking her head, Rei sits up to face her mother. "You don't understand. It was all quite vivid. There was no denying what I saw. Our home world, all the others, even Pluto… they'll all be wiped out. They're cities, their lives, all will turn to dust. No one will survive but…" Rei pauses, desperately trying to figure out how to say who will live… without already setting fate into motion with the prince and princess. "No one will survive except ten. Those ten will each be an heir to the royal family of their respective planets, and one moon. Only they survive because Queen Serenity sends them to be reborn, so they may rise again and finally destroy the evil that threatens to wipe out everything, even Earth."
Her mother's visage contorts into a worried frown. Her dark violet eyes are solemn. There is no doubt in those eyes. There is nothing but trust… and slight fear. "This is very grave. How long have you known?"
"This afternoon, just before I spoke with you and father. I… I went to Venus, by mistake, to seek advice."
The queen lifts an intrigued eyebrow. "You went to Venus? About war?"
Blushing darkly, the priestess looks away. "It… there was more. I… Th-there was…"
Smiling gently, her mother reaches out and cups Rei's face in her hands. "Exura, my dear, have you fallen in love?" Rei's aflame face is all the answer the older woman needs. She chuckles softly. "Who has stolen your heart, my dear?" she asks, for a moment, allowing the topic of war to be placed second.
After pouting at her feet for a considerable time, Rei finally dares to whisper an answer. "The Princess… of Earth's Moon…"
Blinking a moment, her mother cocks her head to the side in an elegant fashion. "The Moon Child? But when have you ever-? I had thought you had never met the Princess of the Moon."
"I-I…" Rei stutters uncontrollably, brain reeling for a plausible answer. "I have n-not! I… It was only from a distance, but-!" Blushing profusely, she looks away from her mother's eyes. "I… have had visions. I have seen her… In the future, after everyone perishes and the ten are reborn… I have seen her. I…" Rei winces, curling into herself as memories flash behind her eyes. They flashes are so vivid, even her mother gets glimpses of them. "She is… so pure, mother. So kind, and sweet. I have never met anyone with more heart, more courage…" Her hands clench.
Reaching out, her mother scoops up her hands and massages them until they uncurl. "I must admit… That was not one I expect you to say. But," she continues before Rei can speak. "I can see how you would fall for one such as her. I have met her only once, when she was but a child, but she was indeed sweet and pure. It does not surprise me that she would catch your attention." A quick teasing smirk graces her mother's full lips. "After all, she is quite opposite in temperament then you."
"Mother!" whines Rei, pulling out of her mother's grasp and falling back upon the bed.
After smiling at her child a moment, the queen sobers. "But there is still this war you spoke of. How long do we have before they're expected?"
Staring up at the canopy of her bed, the teen traces the odd golden swirling designs with her eyes. "We have nearly a year to prepare… But, there is much that needs to be done. We must contact each planet and declare an emergency meeting. The Senshi must come into being sooner then they were expected."
Her mother's gasp is nearly inaudible. "You know the Senshi?"
Rei nods slowly. "I have seen them, in my vision. I know their faces. But we must call on them early. If we don't summon them now, if we do not start training together now, it will be too late."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because if we wait for Princess Serenity's birthday ball… we will be too late."
Once more startled by her daughter's insight, the queen silently contemplates all she's heard. Suddenly, a thought occurs to her. "If 'we don't start training together'?" she questions.
Rei blinks. She blushes when she realizes her slip of tongue. "Yes. We. I am… shall be, a Senshi."
The queen's eyes mist over, and she turns her head away to hide her face in shadows.
Sitting up quickly, Rei leans close and lays a hand on her mother's arm. "Mother?"
The queen faces her daughter again, eyes sparkling with un-shed tears. None fall. Instead, she pulls Rei close and embraces her tightly.
"My daughter… a legendary Senshi… I am proud of you, my dear. You… will make us all very proud."
Eyes stinging again, Rei hugs her slim waist. "Mother…"
After a long silence, neither moving, the queen finally breaks the embrace to smile lovingly at her daughter. "Come, we must tell your father. We must start making arrangements immediately. I will have him alert everyone."
"The meeting should be at the Moon," Rei says quickly. "It is important everyone gathers there. It is where everything will take place. After all, the Senshi are to be called to protect the Moon Princess. We must request an audience of the queen to arrange an emergency meeting to explain everything." Rei hesitates. "Will they listen? If it is just a vision that we summon them on, will they listen? Or does… does Pluto hold more sway?"
Smiling comfortingly, the queen squeezes Rei's hand. "Pluto may hold strong sway, but a vision from our clan is a very important thing indeed. There have been many a time that our visions have saved lives when Pluto's Gate Keepers said nothing."
Feeling much relieved, Rei bounces to her feet and stretches. "Are we telling father tonight? Or-"
"Telling me what?" booms a cheerful voice as the doors slam open against the walls. Rei rolls her eyes as her father struts into her chambers with a wide smile.
"Telling you that you'll be needing to don your armor soon," retorts Rei.
The king's face falls dramatically. "My armor?" he whines. "But it's so darned heavy! And it pinches!"
The queen chuckles while Rei huffs irritably.
"Dear," calls her mother, gaining their attention. "Exura has had a vision. She has seen war."
The shift is immediate. Gone are the smiles, the amused eyes. Brows drawn together somberly, the king turns his gaze on his wife thoughtfully. "War? When?"
"Just shy a year, I believe," she answers promptly. "It seems we are to be calling on the Senshi sooner then expected."
The king crosses his arms and stares out the darkened window silently. His jaw is tight, his posture tense. "This is serious indeed. I will have to send word to Queen Serenity immediately." He glances at his daughter then freezes. Understanding clicks into place without a word being said. A tight but proud smile curls his lips. "Ah, you'll be leaving us then." He steps close and pulls her into a tight hug. "You'll be a courageous Senshi," he says lowly, hold tightening a little.
Lower lip trembling, Rei closes her eyes tightly to hold back her tears as she burrows her face into her father's shoulder. "I promise I'll make you proud," she whispers hoarsely.
He chuckles deeply, stroking her hair. "You already have…"