Disclaimer: do not own Sailormoon; do not own anything that isn't mine
--Chapter 6--
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of two swords clashing one and another echoed through the Rose Garden. It was nothing out of ordinary to see Prince Endymion, along with his four generals - General Kunzite of Byakko (1), General Zoisite of Seiyuu (2), General Nephrite of Genbu (3) and General Jadeite of Suzaku (4) - practicing their skills on each other on such a fine weather like today. The five spent their most mornings practicing combats and sword fighting, and the duel would not call to stop until the winner was announced. That was exactly how it was for Prince Endymion and General Kunzite when the four ladies came to join them.
"Good morning, boys."
The greeting did distract the generals who were watching not far from the scene, but not to Endymion and Kunzite for they were too drawn in their duel to notice they had guests. It had been hours since the two were at each other throats, and still the winner was yet to determine. This was not new to the generals because both Endymion and Kunzite were considered as the finest swordsmen in a battlefield.
Each general had their own expertise. As the second General in Command, General Kunzite was often seeing carried his short sword around him. He was often to describe as having confidence and was loyalty to his Prince and comrades. He was also considered to be the most reliable person in the group.
General Zoisite, who came next, was the Head Commander under his realm, the Eastern part of Elysian. Although he wasn't the best fighter; but with his intelligence along with the skills of his companions, he was just as importance as the other 3.
General Nephrite, on the other hand, was professional in martial arts. He was the all year round champion in Genbu of the North, and none of the competitors had ever beaten his score so far. He might had seen as an unbeatable and a very strong-willed type of person; however, let's not deceived by his look, because underneath his masculine feature was a family-type (5) of man.
Last but not least was the youngest of the member, General Jadeite. He was someone who gave an eye for an eye to the offender if he felt provoked by; also he was someone who couldn't control of his temper, and usually it was people who he respected the most, like Kunzite, to cool him down.
"Give up, Kunzite. You have no chance winning against me."
The mentioned general didn't retort back to the prince's arrogance word, neither he felt insulted by it. Instead he was thinking of how to disarm his opponent. Prince or not, he treated his opponent without prejudice. He knew it would be disrespectful to the opponent if handicaps were given in a duel. He didn't want to play dirty tricks either because that would consider being disgracefully, not only to his character but to his country as well. It was some moment later had the struggled general gotten a chance to give an unexpected under kick, successfully earning a slight distraction from the prince to be pinned down.
"You were saying?" the general questioned, after thrusting his sword to the by-now-had-his-back-on-the-ground prince.
As for Prince Endymion, he wouldn't dare to move, now that the tip of Kunzite's sword was dangerously close to his throat. Even it was a small movement like gulping, would he be one step earlier than his intend to be with his late grandmother. Finally, the sword withdrew. Then he kindly accepted the general's outstretched hand before stood up to draw in their swords back into sheaths. Together, the men in their early 20s walked back to where the rest of the group was, with the prince dusting off the dust on his polo shirt on the way.
After walking back to the seat, Prince Endymion noticed they were one person short. Since he had no intention to have his friends' girlfriends labeled him as an uncaring betrothal, so he decided to ask where Princess Serenity was.
"She is in her room, still asleep."
Without realizing why, the prince glanced up to the second floor for seek confirmation on the answer given by Princess Minako. Rather than correcting her mistake, he kept a secret to what he saw. Somehow, he felt good to know what the others didn't acknowledge of, and only himself knew the truth. The truth of being the princess wasn't on bed, but instead was standing outside her balcony watching them quietly.
Before they knew it, there came the lunch hour. King Solaris sat on one side of the table; while his queen sat the other side, with the boys on her right; whereas the girls were on the opposite side. Each party had their own subject to talk about while the food was being served. It didn't take them a long time to have most plates turned emptied, from hunger they had been practicing intensively before then.
"How was lunch?" the Earth Queen, although not shown, asked fidgeting.
Only the thing was it wasn't easy to talk right into the core subject, without a leading question to begin with. However, the significance to it wasn't of any of those saying from above, but was of how to lead to a subject concerning her friend in 384403 km (6) distance.
"It was delicious, your majesty."
"Do you like it here?"
"As the matter of fact, we do."
"That is the overstatement of the year." the Venusian princess nodded. She couldn't agree more than what had been said.
"Minako-chan, it is supposed to be the 'understatement' of the year." hissed Princess Ami under her breath.
The Earth Queen couldn't help but to grin at the commotion that occurred in the Royal Dining Room. She was delighted to know the suggestion of sending them over to Earth wasn't a bad idea at the sight of seeing them making themselves comfortable in a new environment.
"You have been on Earth for one and half months now, have you not? Have your mother contact you by any chance?" King Solaris, as if on cue, decided to join the conversation.
Princess Serenity stiffed at the question. The sadness flashed within her eyes faded as quickly as it came. After putting her culinary down on the table, she answered with a softer tone.
"No, she has not, my Lord."
"That could not be helped then. Duties always the first priority, even for you right, my dear?" the Queen reassured the poor child before meeting her husband's silent gaze out of corner of her eyes. They shared a cryptic message only the two of them knew: they needed to talk; privately.
Outside, the high moon was peeking through one of the French windows. It wanted to know why a dark solitary figure was shutting himself inside the private room on the West Wing and what he was doing there. His handsome feature showed a sign of fugitiveness; and since he was so occupied by his own thoughts, he failed to hear a knock on the door.
On the other side of the door stood a Queen Gaia, who visited herself in when she heard no respond. She was worried for her best friend, who came and went on the same day, leaving the princess and her ladies in waiting at their care.
"How was she?"
King Solaris hadn't moved from his previous position. He was unfocused, but had his eyes fixed at the black curtain outside, where there were no stars to shine. He wasn't good at breaking news to people, especially when it came to a devastating one. Therefore he chose not to say a word, only to do a poor job at it by showing the grim in his eyes.
Queen Gaia's heart was thumping so hard that it suffocated her when the message - she hadn't been doing well - came through her. She would have tremble on the floor if she wasn't standing by the door that supported her.
"We have to help her. There must be something we can do. We can send our best healers..." her hoarse voice and the rattling off were the first sign of her nervous breakdown.
"No, there is not."
"But..." she wanted to say something, but her husband had beat her to it.
"She does not want our help. 'This is my destiny' was what she told me when I told her exactly the thing as you told me. I have made a promise, Gaia. I have made a promise to Tranquility before he died in my arms that I will watch over her for him, but now..." King Solaris was as desperate as his wife, wanted to help their friend. Yet at the same time, he felt hopeless. He knew by forcing Selene to accept their help would push her farther from them; a consequence neither he nor Gaia would intend to happen.
As much as she wanted to grief like her husband was, Queen Gaia went to him before hugging him from behind. Her eyes became wet. She knew her husband was endeavoring himself to be brave not to shred a tear, but seeing how vulnerable he now was arched her down to heart.
"She is dying. Selene is dying, and she declined our help. There is nothing we can do." The queen heard him saying. She didn't bother to forge about her crying as she noticed her husband's fragility. After realizing that she should to be soothing instead of influencing by her husband's emotion, she vigorously brushed off her anxiety, and pulling his face towards her before verbalized unyielding.
"Yes, there is. Serenity is still with us, so do the girls. Selene sent them over to have us watch over them. That will be enough, Solaris. Tranquility will understand. I know he will. I promise."
--End of Chapter 6--
Glossary:
(1)Byakko: during the Han Dynasty, a white tiger is believed to be the King of all beasts. When a tiger reached 500 years old, its tail would turn white. Byakko represents direction West and Autumn season, and the element it holds is Mental. Tokaki (Foot), Tataro (Lasso), Ekie (Stomach), Subaru (Unity), Amefuri (Net), Toroki (Snout) and Kagasuki (Visiting) are its constellations.
(2) Seiryu: is an azure dragon, which has the symbol of an Emperor's power. The guardian of the East is connected with season Spring, and its element is Water. The 7 stars are Suboshi (Horn), Amiboshi (Throat), Tomo (Root), Soi (Chamber), Nakago (Heart), Ashitare (Tail) and Miboshi (Basket).
(3) Genbu: depicted as snake coiling around a tortoise. The tortoise and the snake are the symbolism of longevity in ancient China. It protects North, is corresponds to season Winter, and the element is Earth. Its 7 stars includes Hikitsu (Dipper), Inami (Ox), Uruki (Woman), Tomite (Void), Umiyama (Rooftop), Hatsui (Room) and Namame (Wall).
(4) Suzaku: Vermilion bird is a mythology spirit creature in Chinese constellation. The guardian of South has the element of Fire, and is represents season Summer. Like the others, it has 7 stars, and they are Chichiri (Well), Tamahome (Orge), Nuriko (Willow), Hotohori (Star), Chiriko (Net), Tasuki (Wings) and Mitsukake (Chariot).
(5) is a term used for a man who is once married gone back home after working, and often stays at home with his family when he is off from work.
(6) that's the distance from Earth to Moon
Cdgal: If you have realised, I adapted the names of the quadrants and their constellations from Watase Yuu's famous work, Fushigi Yuugi (otherwise known as the Mysterious Play) and Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden. Thanks to wikipedia search that I've managed to get the information I need.