The dark silhouetted Time Gate was opened and one step into that gate would complete the sojourn across space. Sailor Neo Moon stopped and looked at the bright light bursting from the gate. Sailor Saturn was walking right beside her when the sound of her princess' footsteps ceased to echo against the unfathomable width of the corridor. The Senshi of Revolution rested the bottom of her polished glaive on the cold marble floor and looked on ahead.
Sailor Vesta, who was foremost in front in the group of her sisters, almost walked into the silent senshi. "Hey, why did you stop all of a sudden?" she asked.
Saturn lowered her chin a fraction. "We're almost there."
The Quartet looked at each other and Sailor Juno walked forward boldly. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Her stride was quickly held back by Sailor Ceres who scrawled at her green haired sister.
"Idiot, we can't just go walking in there; we don't know what's waiting for us," she said before returning her out reached arm to her side.
Juno curled her lips in a pout while Pallas asked, "What do we do now Small Lady-sama?"
Neo Sailor Moon stared straight out at the shapeless white light and took a deep breath. "I don't know Pallas, I have no idea what Rhodes or Somnus is like."
"Who knows what's going to happen after we step into that world," Saturn said solemnly.
Ceres sighed dramatically, "I do hope this world is civilized enough to have shopping centers at the very least. I'd hate to be stuck somewhere where I can't even get a decent pair of shoes."
Vesta raised an eyebrow at this and said, "I don't think that's what you should be worried about Ceres…"
While the Quartet's talked, Sailor Moon's whole mind was focused on what she was there to accomplish. He's there somewhere, she told herself, and she was going to bring him back, take him back to where he belongs. Her gloved hands reached for the straps of her backpack and she gripped them tightly.
"Come on let's go, we've already come this far we shouldn't hold back now," she paused. "Whatever's behind this door we'll have to face it together." The young princess looked back at the Sailor Quartet and Sailor Saturn and they all nodded to her.
Looking back to the Time Gate, the crown princess of Crystal Tokyo took one step forward and with her second step she disappeared into the embrace of the gate's glaring light.
Blue bordered white shoes made small clicks on a clean marble pathway. Ophelia's figure passed against the backdrop of the palace garden with its clear view of the sky. The sun had not risen high above the horizon and the morning air was still cool. The grass, bushes, trees, and flowers however were already rejoicing in the sunlight that was beginning to wash over them.
"Good morning Ophelia-sama! Coming to check on the roses again?" an old gardener's head appeared behind a nearby bush.
Ophelia smiled, "Good morning to you as well. No, I'm doing an errand for my brother right now." She walked a little towards the bush, her hands clasped in front of her, "Have you seen His Majesty? The chamberlain said he was walking towards here after breakfast."
The groundskeeper's face lit up. "Why yes, he came down this way a little while ago. Headed down that way. He goes there every morning. As for what though, that I can't say." He gave Ophelia a slight shrug.
"Thank you, that was very helpful." She said and left the gardener to his task, and headed down the lane the old man had pointed at.
Unlike the rest of the garden, which was mostly lawns and flowerbeds, this section of the garden was more secluded, with tall willows planted on both sides of the path to form a keyhole shaped ring. Arbors flush with dark green vegetation were erected at intervals over the path. The cool shade and the bell-shaped white flowers that dangle from the vines made Ophelia feel calm and unhurried, while stray patterns of sunlight are outlined by the shadows of the leaves over her head.
A marble gazebo stood at the end of the shaded alley, and from where she stood in the shadows of the arbors and trees the sunlight seem to come down in a solid column of light. The sunlight made the marble warm, like ivory. The four pillars supporting the structure glowed where the light washed down upon their outward facing sides. A figure kneeled above the small circle of shadow made from the roof of the gazebo. The gold-framed pattern on his coattail was spread out on the floor. His white hair and attire seemed to have formed from the marble itself in their compliment to the stone's warm color.
Ophelia halted her footsteps at the last arbor, her face in the light from the open canopy. She quietly gazed at her king as he had his back to her. What is he doing? She wondered and watched.
A few more seconds past, with the calls of small birds as the only distraction audible in the otherwise silent garden. Ophelia thought that perhaps she should approach him when Helios stood up, his coattail flowing up with him. When he turned around and saw Ophelia standing there, he blinked as their eyes met. "Ophelia?"
Ophelia froze with her face illuminated at the edge of the circle. Helios walked out and the two of them stood bathed in the same column of light.
"Oh…uh, Laertes said he was too busy at the moment but he was afraid you might be late for the meeting so I came to look for you in his place," she explained, not moving from where she stood. Finally she lowered her gaze as embarrassment overwhelmed her, as if she had realized she had intruded upon someone's privacy. "I'm sorry if I had interrupted you," she said.
"No, I had just finished." Helios walked through the clearing and came to stand beside her.
Ophelia raised her eyes again and saw Helios smile at her before continuing down the pavilion. The girl with lilac hair followed him while she stared at his back. "Helios-sama?"
Helios looked over his shoulder. "Yes?"
Ophelia wasn't sure if she should ask but found that she can't quell her curiosity. "Were you praying back there?"
Helios' eyes drifted from Ophelia to the side before his eyes saw her again, "Yes."
"You have done so everyday, for a long time now?"
"I suppose. I have always done so…as far as I could remember." Helios turned his face back.
"Then for whom and what do you pray?"
Helios' gait quickened and Ophelia thought she heard him clear his throat uncomfortably. There was no reply to that for a long time until they were almost back out from under the awning of arbors.
"Something, someone important." The smile Ophelia saw on his face was fleeting. It was a smile that carried unspoken apology and secrecy. When Ophelia didn't ask a second question, Helios checked the time on the clock tower in the distance. "It's almost time for the meeting, thank you for coming all this way to remind me." The young woman nodded mutely and stopped walking, leaving Helios to continue on his own.
Ophelia's whisper thin brows tightened in a frown as she stared at the ground. She didn't ask because he wasn't going to say anything more even if she did; the way he had answered her was plain enough. Since he came back there had only been that handful of information Laertes had teased out of him. It was obvious to everyone he was holding back on what had happened to him during those missing years on Earth, but not everyone seemed bothered by it. Horatio never asked a word of it and Laertes had pried out enough so he could make up something for everyone else to believe. Even her father and his colleagues had not bothered to dig any deeper. Ophelia understood they didn't because they were too concerned about what was going on now to worry about the past. What was important was that he was here, now.
But that wasn't good enough to satisfy Ophelia's curiosity. Even though they had been getting along well with each other there was something missing between them, like someone had ripped out the middle of a book and handed her the ending. There was a gap she couldn't fill and couldn't ignore. Ophelia knew if she had been a bolder person perhaps she would have asked him much earlier, but she wasn't outgoing enough to do so. Only now was she beginning to feel comfortable to start inquiring about his past. She did not want to sound intrusive, afraid that he might shun her or even refuse to stay here afterwards. Yet she sincerely wanted to know what life was like for him on Earth, what did he do, did he like it there, a whole plethora of questions that she never really started to ask until a few minutes ago.
Ophelia twisted her clasped hand around the other wrist, feeling frustrated. At least there is time, and maybe after a while he will be more at ease, she tried to calm her disappointments. Time is something I have.
Helios watched the brushed of clouds high above the window. Laertes was talking to him as they walked down the hallway, talking about something rapidly that slipped past Helios through his half-interested mind.
"Your Majesty? Helios-sama?" Laertes' voice rose and this made Helios snap back to his present environment.
"Yes? Oh, I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked hastily.
Horatio swallowed a giggle and looked away.
With Laertes and Horatio walking behind him, the three of them along with a small escort, were headed toward Helios' first official meeting with the advisors of the Royal Assembly. Thankfully the Assembly had allowed the Prince time to adjust before requesting that he hold a royal audience with all of them. This was especially necessary since Helios needed to catch up on many mandatory subjects related to the country. And although it was unsaid, this was in thanks to Polonius, who had been holding back his fellow advisors' requests with gentle and persuasive words, since he knew rushing Helios into the Assembly unprepared would be a bad idea.
Laertes' only reaction to his liege's distracted attention was a slightly deeper breath, but Helios had known the platinum blond young man long enough to know that this was his polite way of showing his irritation.
"Do you remember the names of all the Assembly members?"
"Yes, I do."
"Could you please reiterate they to me before we proceed."
Helios paused for a moment to collect his thought then did so as he was asked.
Laertes nodded at each answer and seemed quite satisfied.
"Hopefully the meeting won't last too long. I have to stand outside the whole time you guys are in there," Horatio said.
"I hope so too." Helios and Horatio exchanged hopeful looks.
Laertes' calm, foreboding voice quickly wiped their optimism away. "Some of the men we are about to meet were on opposite sides just months ago. It is a miracle just to have them sit at the same table."
Helios let out a quiet half-hearted sigh when him and his entourage turned to face the conference room door. Two servants promptly opened the large door for him and the group stopped.
"I'll be waiting here. Good luck." Horatio waved and stepped to the side. The rest of his unit spread out and joined the ranks of the four other guards who were already there.
Helios smiled at his friend and refocused on what lied ahead of him.
Laertes squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. Helios took a deep breath and stepped into the meeting room. The room was painted pine green and there was heavy accent of gold around the trimmings. The curtains around the large windows were drawn but the room felt heavy and severe due to the people sitting in it. A dozen men of ages varying between fifty and seventy years old sat around the thick oak table in the middle of the room. There was a closed glossy white folder in front of each person with the royal seal on the cover. The moment Helios set foot in the room they rose and bowed.
As Helios walked around the table he studied the older men. With the exception of Polonius, none of the advisors showed any expression. Some of them were thin and distinguished looking, with medals hanging off their expensive suits and jackets. There were a few whose faces looked as if putty had been adhered to their cheeks and hands. One had a frame so full he looked like a lump of soft wax that had melted into his chair and had struggled to stand up.
A servant pulled out the empty seat at the head of the table for Helios. After he had taken his seat the other ministers sat down. Thus with Laertes sitting to his right, Helios watched as each man opened his folder and the meeting was underway.
The first few items the men brought up were relatively predictable. There was discussion on which part of the country needed to be rebuilt first and fastest, how the taxes should be lowered in certain areas to encourage economic growth and repopulation and protecting land and waterways against bandits and pirates who have become open scourges during the war. The method with which these topics were introduced and discussed was formal and systematic. Anyone of the advisors could bring up a topic, introduce it to the Assembly, after which debate followed and in the end the discussion rested with the king, or rather, the heir apparent.
Laertes quietly studied the people in the conference room. The topic being discussed right now was about tariff and domestic tax changes, something Helios was in high favor of. This and a number of other matters went on fairly smoothly, something Laertes had thought might not happen. The atmosphere in the room was cool and the language being used elegant, controlled, and to Laertes' trained ears, carrying the ever so present tinge of harshness bred from ten years of conflict. Some of the advisors did not look at each other as opinions and options were stated. Some made small marked noises at the words of others but so far they have been ignored or else endured for the sake of peace and an attempt at harmony.
Initially, when Polonius first announced the idea of bring both sides to the Assembly table Laertes thought his father had lost his wits to old age. The Assembly required the advisors to be influential and worldly men who knew what they were doing. But the War had split many of these needed individuals into two camps and a decade was a goodly time to build up grudges and mistrust. Still, Polonius managed to not only to convince these men to come to the table together but to talk peacefully over things. To a certain degree Laertes had developed a renewed, if somewhat reluctant, respect for his father's people skills because of this. The man with his silver topped walking stick was after all the person who had gone to the oracle and gotten the news from the prophetess that Helios was still alive and had gotten the two feuding sides to agree to a truce.
But how long was that truce going to last though? These men most definitely have personal vendettas between each other. All of them are wealthy and powerful and Laertes knew Helios will need the support of if not of the whole Assembly, then at least a majority if he wanted to accomplish anything since Parliament can easily be persuaded if these twelve men wanted something done. Whatever happened, the bad blood between the advisors must be kept to a minimal here or else it could easily spilt over and influence the prince, the youngest minister in that room thought deeply to himself.
Laertes looked over at Helios while a bearded advisor with a tight voice was making his point. Laertes knew him as the ex-financial backbone and cousin to one of the leading rebel nobles. Helios would occasionally shift his amber eyes over to whoever was talking, to demonstrate that he was listening. Laertes sighed inside. He should be fine as long as no one brings up that matter…he thought to himself.
"With the implement I estimate the deficit will be reduced to a minimum. Allow me to be blunt but there is no better choice," the sixty-something old man smiled and cupped his hand, seemingly in amends.
Helios was silent and did not look up at the table from his deep frown.
Laertes coughed, his cool blue eyes looked at his fellow advisor from behind the steely frames of his spectacles. "I must say what you have proposed is quite ingenious Menteith-san, but we do not think that His Majesty has made up his mind yet."
The grin beneath Menteith's mustache twitched but he continued to smile as he addressed Laertes "Of course, of course! I meant no offence Sire." He said in a wispy kind of voice.
The young heir smiled faintly, his eyes dashed up once, then down again. "I know…I think that was an interesting idea you gave Menteith-san. But really, what of the plan I had proposed, can you not work that in with your own outlines? I believe that too is quite workable."
Menteith straightened his back and his smile broadened, making him look like a thin, grinning cat. "Your Majesty's idea was a good one, much better than some of the ones my peers have raised." His smile grew broader. "However it is a bit too early to put such a plan into action. The country does not have the stability needed for immediate tax relief and lowering the tariff will only decrease the national income which we will need for the reconstruction."
"But by delaying the assistance measures leaves the people to fend for themselves for much longer than necessary, in my opinion," Helios stressed and took his hands off the table.
"Unfortunately that is true, but for the greater good of the economy it will have to be done. If there is no stable market for the citizens to go to then they are just as bad off," Menteith explained.
Helios reluctantly nodded, "Very well then…"
Cornelius, the putty-like man shifted in his chair and pulled the corners of his thick lips up, forming deep groves by the sides of his mouth. "I think we have made a great deal of progress in our meeting today. Polonius my friend," Polonius turned cordially at him. "I think Parliament will find the decisions made here today just as enlightening as we found them to be, don't you think?"
Polonius only smiled.
Cornelius touched his nose and made a wheezing sound. "But for today I think we have finished what we set out to do." He reached into a pocket and dabbed his check with a silk handkerchief he had tucked away.
Valtemand, a broad shouldered man wearing an impressive red suit, turned his coal-black brows to the speaker. "The meeting has not ended just yet Cornelius."
The room hushed all of a sudden and several men shifted their posture. "Oh-is that so?" Cornelius swallowed.
Helios looked around, confused, then glanced at Laertes. Laertes was staring intently at Valtemand however and Helios thought his peer's face looked tighter than usual. There was palpable tension in the room and Helios was not truly surprised it had came from a person such as Valtemand, a general who had served for decades in the military. He had been on the Parliament wing of the successor debate and had seen plenty of raw action during the previous decade. It really wasn't hard to imagine the people here had been out to eliminate each other only months ago. Keeping that in mind, Helios turned his attention back to the general.
"I have something very important which I need to show you, Helios-sama," Valtemand met Helios' eyes and Helios found it hard not to flinch. Valtemand stood up from his chair and called for a steward to come into the room. After giving the servant instructions, there was a small ripple of speculative murmurs going through the room. The only people who did not participate in the ruffling were Polonius, Laertes, and Helios who only watched.
In a few minutes the servant, now carrying a giant rolled up canvas, followed by another with a tripod frame, came back in. The steward opened the canvas to reveal a giant map of Rhodes and its surrounding neighbors. The larger continent was to the left of the island and was covered in multi-colored blotches, denoting different countries.
Valtemand strolled to the front of the map, his hands behind him. "How many here have heard of the country of Macedonia?" Valtemand asked as he pointed to a small country colored green at the upper western corner of the map.
A man wearing a thin pair of glasses scuffed. "Of course we have, the Macedonians have been trading with us since the days of our earliest ancestors."
The general set on a pair of pointed glares at the speaker. "From what you say it sounds as if we should be very familiar with that country then?"
A unanimous nod and variant sounds of agreement answered him. Valtemand continued pacing. "Then I guess that means everyone here also knows that the prince of Macedonian, young Demetrius, took power after his father's death about a year ago?"
"Why exactly are you telling us what everyone already know Lord Valtemand?" someone said, "You are wasting His Majesty's and our time going off aimlessly like this. It is not habitual for a man such as yourself to dawdle."
Unexpectedly Valtemand turned around sharply and said precisely, "I do have something important to say. Let me ask one last question then; how many of you know how much land has been added to the Macedonian map since the enthronement of the new king?"
The room fell silent again and some of the advisors looked off to the side as if they had no part in this.
Valtemand smiled smugly and walked back to his map. "Well since it appears no one know, allow me to inform you then." Suddenly he pulled hard on the map and it fell to the ground to reveal another map underneath. This one however, showed nearly the entire upper portion of the continent now under one color: green. "As of last year Demetrius has expanded his country's boarder south to Attica and north to Thessaly. Two weeks ago his army reached the waters of Oceania." With that said Valtemand rested his hand on the back of his chair and scanned the room. "And now that he has tasted the salty winds of the sea where do you think he will go? What rich land lies beyond the sea that he can invade next?" he said slowly.
Polonius answered softly, "Rhodes." He met Valtemand's eyes evenly.
"But that is absurd! Macedonia has always been on excellent terms with us! They would never do something like that!" Someone laughed but the singular outburst died rather quickly.
Osric stirred for the first time on this topic when he sighed. "Unfortunately old friendships do not guarantee security, especially from an ambitious young man bent on taking over this side of Somnus. I have been observing that kingdom for a while now and their army is impressive indeed, especially the five Sarissa Captains whom Demetrius hold as his personal guards."
Lennox, a marquis from southern Rhodes, stood up. His chair made a sharp scrapping sound as it was pushed back suddenly. "What are you saying then? That Rhodes should get ready for another war?"
Helios' breath froze.
"That is exactly what I want to propose. There is no telling when that belligerent young man will come charging our way but I am positive he will come and soon. He is not going to walk by a bountiful place like Rhodes and do nothing. And since we are in a weakened state we must be on the defensive as quickly as possible in case he does strike first! We need to have the necessary equipment to defend ourselves. Increasing the patrols and lookouts on the coast and the addition of fortifications need to be completed in as little time was possible. I have men who report to me daily regarding the situation in Macedonia so we may be informed of their movements but more is needed."
"This is foolish talk!" An old man with a head of thin white hair stood up and shouted. "Valtemand you must be insane to think that Macedonia would attack us! If we do fortify ourselves, then what will they think? Would we not be provoking a confrontation then? And think of the cost! There is not enough money in the treasury right now to do something of this magnitude so fast…it is impossible!"
Valtemand narrowed his eyes. "Oh? The treasury may not be enough but I know that the private holdings of some of you present here can easily surpass what's in the treasury by ten-folds!"
"You shameless buffoon, how dare of you! What proof do you have to make such baseless accusations! This is an insult to this Assembly and to His Majesty as well!" someone else stood up and shouts soon filled the room.
"Baseless accusations? It is common knowledge that those of you on the rebel side hoarded your property before fleeing!" a supporter of Valtemand said.
"You…!"
"Mentieth-san, Valtemand-san, everyone please," Laertes began to rise from his seat.
"Hush Laertes, you are too young to meddle in this!" Valtemand shouted.
Laertes didn't move for a second but he did as he was told and slowly sat down again, a dark look hung behind his glasses.
Finally Polonius stepped in and tried to calm the crowd. "Gentlemen please! Remember whose presence we are in, control yourselves!"
The men calmed a fraction but there was still a lot of spiteful looks and grumbling.
Polonius looked to Helios now and said, "I think we should hear what Helios-sama has to say regarding this matter and let the decide rest with him." He nodded.
Helios swallowed. He felt as if he had just been tossed out from a tornado and his mind could not piece itself together quickly enough to make sense of what had happened. "I…" he started and paused when everyone's bore their eyes into him. "I think Valtemand-san has a point but…I can also understand the tight financial situation the country is in." He tried to think clearly again but without much success. "For now let us work on a compromise…increase the security on the boarders, but the fortifications and increases in arms can wait a little while until we have better assessed the situation in Macedonia. What do you think?"
Valtemand and his supporters do not look completely happy, especially the general himself but they grudgingly agreed to the compromise.
After what seemed like a lifetime, the doors to the meeting room reopened and Helios, along with Laertes, walked out while Polonius stayed behind to smooth out the feathers of his fellow Assembly members.
Horatio quickly joined them. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the expressions on Helios and Laertes' faces. "I take it the meeting didn't go too well." He glanced back at the room "I could hear them shouting from outside."
Helios sighed heavily; his hand went to pull at his jacket collar. He had just realized how tight it felt around his neck. "No…it did not."
Ophelia ran her fingers over the top of a thick bush of cobalt blue roses. The flowers have been watered and droplets of water clung to the pedals and leaves, shimmering like tiny diamonds. Ophelia bent forward and smiled at the flowers. "It's a beautiful day today, don't you think?" she said. The air shifted, causing the pedal laden blossoms to bob slightly as if nodding their heads. Ophelia chuckled and looked back at the palace, her back touching the shadow of a nearby tree.
"I wonder if the meeting has ended yet…"she said to herself.
A stronger breeze ruffled her dress and danced with a few strands of her lavender hair in the air. Her hand went to keep her hair from drifting into her face when unexpectedly the wind grew stronger, pulling up loose petals and leaves from all around her and sent them swirling towards the center of the garden. She had to close her eyes to keep the raising bits of dust and debris out.
Ophelia tensed. This was no ordinary wind. She was now feeling a static-like energy plucking at every nerve in her body. When Ophelia felt the wind lessened in intensity she opened her eyes but what she saw made her drew her hand away. A whirl of pink cloud appeared out of nowhere then the center of the cloud opened up and six people appeared. The cloud disappeared as soon as it had appeared and the winds died with it. Ophelia looked at the strangers through the curtain of falling petals, and saw they were all girls looking about the same age as her. One held a large glaive and four others had odd hairstyles wrapped in long tails or tied into tight round buns. The girl who was foremost amongst them was dressed in pink and white; her hair made to look like two stubby pinecones. All of them were scanning the garden looking lost.
And lost indeed were the Solar System senshis as they gawked at their new surrounding.
"This is a rose garden," Saturn said.
"Yeah and it's huge!" Vesta exclaimed. They walked forward a few steps and Ophelia cautiously walked towards them, careful not to approach too fast in case she alarms them.
Neo Moon whirled around and the pink ribbon on her back danced with her when she saw the palace. "Wow, if this is the palace it's huge!"
Ceres stopped and kneeled down to look carefully at the roses planted at the edge of the vast garden. "How odd, the roses here are blue, I've never seen that before."
The various chatters from the strangers reached Ophelia's ear but she was not close enough so it was hard for her to make out what any one of them was saying. She stayed close to a tree by the garden path and kept watch. Ophelia has no idea who these strangers were but the sensation she felt earlier was for sure emanating from them. Their presence kick started a new awareness in her mind and Ophelia felt confused by this unfamiliar sensation. Who are these people? She kept looking at them but they still have not noticed her, too busy staring and looking at the building and the flowers. It is better to be cautious around strangers she said to herself and decided it was time to make her presence known to the visitors.
"Who goes there?" Ophelia asked peaceably. She kept her stance relaxed and non-threatening but ready at the same time.
The group of strangers froze and the four girls with odd hair shifted nervously when they saw her. Ophelia looked at them seriously when their leader shouted, "Wait, guys!" She looked at Ophelia and the two young women made eye contact.
Ruby red stared into aquamarine blue. Neo Moon felt a light tangle in the base of her brain when they met but she nudged the sensation aside as she smiled. "My name is Neo Sailor Moon, this is Sailor Saturn, and they are the Sailor Quartet." Neo Moon introduced. "They're my friends and you just surprised us that's all, we mean no harm."
"Sailors? All of you are senshis?" Ophelia was amazed. That would explain the feeling she had felt. Since long ago she was known there were other senshis out there like herself but she had never met one before. Now there was six of them standing right in front of her.
"Yes, we are." Neo Moon smiled brightly and the Quartet relaxed a little.
"I see. My name is Ophelia, the caretaker of the blue roses. What is your business here then Neo Sailor Moon?" Ophelia smiled back.
Neo Moon wasted no time and said straightforwardly, "I'm here to look for someone and bring him home."
Ophelia blinked, "And who might this person be?"
"His name is Helios, I was told he was brought here to this country." Neo Moon answered honestly but she started to second-guess her words when she saw Ophelia's smile change into a concerned frown.
"You are…from Earth then?" Ophelia said, her eyes narrowing. Her brother had told her that the senshis of Earth had once helped Helios-sama, but what were they doing here?
Neo Moon seemed to sense Ophelia's reservations and considered her answer for a second before nodding.
Ophelia focused on Neo Sailor Moon and said in an even voice. "Perhaps you do not understand the current situation. Helios-sama is needed here; he cannot leave Rhodes. I'm sorry."
"But-" Neo Moon started but Vesta was in front of her, her hands above her hips.
"'I'm sorry?' Well, who gave you the right to make that decision? You people were the ones who dragged him here without asking first!"
"Vesta!" Neo Moon griped Sailor Vesta's arm "Don't say that!""I had no choice." Ophelia said regretfully but Neo Moon could tell she was also determined that she had done the right thing by the steadfastness in her pale eyes.
Ceres piffed and said "Forget it, I think we should get in that palace, find him, and leave. We're wasting time talking."
Ophelia though, did not budge at the intimidation. "You intend to use force?"
The Quartet answered by shifting themselves forward while Neo Moon could only look nervously from Amazoness to Amazoness. So much for coming in peace, she thought. The princess wanted to step forward, ready to intervene but Saturn stopped her with her hand and picked up her glaive.
Ophelia stepped back, looking hard at the senshis she quietly said, "Very well then…" The Solar System senshis readied themselves when unexpectedly her hand went to one of the roses in her hair. Taking it up in between her fingers, Ophelia held the rose up into the air.
"Somnus Star Power Make Up!"
Blue light bled from the rose and poured down to cover Ophelia. The petals that had once been scattered from the opening of the time tunnel were stirred back into the air by the light and a cloud of shifting blue petals circled around the petite young woman. The Quartet stood with their mouths agape while Neo Sailor Moon watched with wide opened eyes. Her mother had told her about the Sailor Star Lights and of other senshis, but this was the first time the princess saw a senshi from outside her star system.
As Sailor Somnus appeared out of the cloud of petals, the transparent sash wrapped weightlessly around her arms rippled and the golden thread on her dress glimmered in the sunlight. The transformation was finally completed when the rose petals shot upward before drifting back down, as if a whole season of roses had all blossomed at the same time just to frame Sailor Somnus in her transformed pose.
"I must ask you to leave this place or else I will be forced to take further action," Sailor Somnus warned.
The spell of her transformation broken, the Earth senshis readied themselves again. Saturn looked at Neo Moon since the decision rested with her as leader. Neo Moon stared at Sailor Somnus. She's series…inside Neo Moon could feel the treads of Sailor Somnus' planetary power drawing at her and from that she knew she was facing a powerful opponent. Thinking back to her Pink Moon Crystal and the events that led to its evolution, Neo Moon made her decision.
"No, we won't leave, not without Helios!" Neo Sailor Moon answered back.
Juno grinned to herself. "All right then, let's see how much Mars-san has taught us!"
Without any further delay, the battle begun. Sailor Somnus made her move first and rushed the Quartet. "Gossamer Spurs!" The two ends of her translucent ribbon shot out at the four senshis like arrows and stretched far longer than its usual length. The Quartet scattered while Saturn guarded Neo Moon and the two of them jumped back. One end of the ribbon went after Ceres and Juno while the other continued after Pallas and Vesta.
"Empress's Gaze!" Sailor Juno closed her eyes and when she reopened them her shadow split into four and rose up from the ground to form four exact images of the green haired senshi. When the number of targets suddenly increased the ribbon stopped, confused by the five Sailor Junos.
Knowing this was her chance, Sailor Ceres crossed her arms in front of her chest and pushed them out towards the hesitating fabric. "Razor Blooms!" Orange-yellow flower petals rained from her palms down on the ribbon, pinning it onto the stone floor before it becoming motionless.
On the other end Sailor Pallas performed a quick summersault and out of reach of the ribbon but it went after Sailor Vesta instead. Sailor Vesta raised both hands into the air as she stood her ground. "Sacred Ember!" A red glow began to form above her and a fireball roared to life. It then split into hundreds of small red glowing comets, all aimed at the ribbon. Smoke rose when the embers skimmed against the fabric and Sailor Somnus quickly retracted both ends, scowled when she saw the damage the Sailor Quartet had inflicted.
Not one to give up so quickly, Sailor Somnus reeled back her ribbon "Gossamer Double Strike!" The two ends of the ribbon twisted together into a sharp lance and hurled itself at the senshis again.
Seeing this new attack, Saturn stepped up and raised her glaive "Silence Wall!"
The tip of the ribbon struck the opaque wall and the ribbon was knocked back and drifted limply to the ground.
"Ha, take that!" Vesta cheered
Seeing another one of her attacks repelled, Sailor Somnus retracted her ribbon. They're strong, and there's six of them and one of me, I'll have to put them all down at once or else I don't stand a chance! She leaped into the air and was carried above the Solar System senshis where she hovered. She spread her arms out at ninety degrees from her body and cried, "Sapphire Mist Lullaby!"
A spiral of blue-violet dust fell from her opened arms and came upon the senshis like a blizzard. Not knowing what the powder was, the Solar System senshis covered their noses and mouths but a sudden drowsiness was quickly threading through their limbs. "Pallas is getting sleepy…" Pallas yawned.
"Damn, it's some sort of sleeping powder!" Juno shouted and struggled to keep her eyes open. Sailor Saturn tried to stand up right but her hand could barely hold onto her glaive.
Sailor Pallas, her head reeling back and forth in sleepiness, saw her sisters and teammates slump down on all four as their legs weakened. Pallas has to do something to help! She managed to raise her hands and shout, "Aegis Manifestation!" A blue ball formed and expanded around her until it formed a doom over them. The potent sleeping powder drifted off the side of the protective covering and lost their effect. Inside the doom the senshis shook themselves and managed to stand again but their heads were still heavy. Neo Moon looked over at Pallas and smiled when she saw it was the young Amazoness who had saved her but she also quickly realized the blue haired girl was barely awake. Seeing this defensive maneuver, Sailor Somnus pushed harder by releasing more of the particles to try to blow through the shield.
"Don't fall asleep Pallas!" Ceres shouted and shook her sister when her eyes began to droop.
"Yeah, come on!" Juno cheered her on.
"You can do it!" Neo Moon said with her hand on Pallas' back.
While the Quartet were cheering their youngest member on, the battle had not gone unnoticed by the rest of the palace inhabitants. While Horatio, Laertes, and Helios were walking back from their meeting, a frantic servant almost ran into them.
Horatio grabbed the panicking servant and held him by the shoulder "Be careful where you're going! Do you know who you almost ran into?"
"Ah, I'm sorry Captain-and Your Majesty, but-but-!" the frantic young man stuttered.
Horatio let go of him and Laertes asked, "Why were you running? Did something happen?"
"Yes Laertes-sama, it's Ophelia-sama! She's in the garden, fighting!"
"What!" the three young men exclaimed at the same time.
"Tell me what happened, who is she fighting?" Laertes demanded.
"I-I do not know Sir! I was going to inform her that your meeting had ended, like she instructed me to, but when I reached the garden she had transformed and was facing a group of strangers! All of them female!"
Hearing this Helios had a sudden inkling just who these female strangers might be. Before anyone said anything more Helios had sprinted down the hallway, his coattail fluttering behind him.
"Hey, wait a second!" Horatio shouted while the servant kept talking.
"Also, when I last left her Ophelia-sama was being beaten back! There are five-no, six of them against her! I do not know if she can win Sir!"
Hearing this, Laertes looked sharply at Horatio "Horatio, call for your entire squadron now!" without another word he took off after Helios.
With another person running off on him, Horatio moaned, "Oh jeez! You heard him, go get reinforcement!" he ordered the servant. "The rest of you follow me!" he shouted at his men and dashed off.
The hallway went by as a shaky blur in Helios' eyes as he ran. All he thought about were the possibilities that had suddenly jumped out of nowhere. If the Sailor Senshis have came to find me then she could be among them! If that's true then I have to stop them!
Luckily for him the garden was only a short distance away from where he had been beforehand. Making a sharp right he came to the door that led via a wide set of stairs onto the front of the rose garden. He thrust opened the tall glass doors and it didn't take long to find them. The senshis were holding their stalemated battle in plain sight from the palace. Thus it also didn't take Helios very long to find a girl with pink hair standing in the blue bubble doom that Sailor Somnus was attacking.
"Ophelia stop!" Helios screamed.
Sailor Somnus twist around and saw him running towards her. She slowly lowered her hands and the powder disappeared as she floated down to the ground. Seeing Sailor Somnus step down, Sailor Pallas lowered her shield and slouched down onto the ground in a sleepy daze.
Neo Moon watched as the doom came down and faded to nothing. She took a relieved breath that ended in a yawn. Shaking the remaining bit of sleepiness aside she was further relieved to see that everyone was okay although they each look like they had just come out of a nap. It was only after knowing that her team was unharmed that Neo Sailor Moon wondered why Sailor Somnus had stopped attacking. She sought out the lilac haired senshi but saw her looking off to the side. When she followed Sailor Somnus' gaze the princess of Crystal Tokyo locked eyes with Helios. He had run down to where she was and now stood panting as his footsteps slowed to a halt.
Both of them simply stared at each, hundreds of thoughts now instantly flooding their minds, rendering them speechless.
Neo Moon's mouth parted slightly, part of her somehow not believing in the suddenness of their meeting while the other part tried to process everything she was feeling. His' gotten taller…but, why is there a heavy line under his eyes? Has he been worried over something? Is it serious? It's been so long…maybe I should ask…no, I should say something else first. What should I say-?
She was thankfully released from that predicament when Helios spoke first, "Chibi Usa-chan."
Neo Moon jumped and she startled herself. She blinked rapidly and everything she had been worrying about dissipated at his words. Seeing her reaction, Helios smiled gently. "You haven't changed."
The princess looked down and blushed. Seeing the two of them together, Sailor Saturn smiled to herself as she stepped beside Neo Moon. "Hello again Helios-kun-or rather, Your Majesty."
Helios chuckled and gave Saturn a sad look "Please Hotaru, not you as well." The two of them exchanged knowing smiles when Sailor Somnus, who has been observing this strange gathering, interjected.
"Helios-sama they-" she began but Helios gently cut her off with a raised hand.
"Don't worry Ophelia, they are my good friends. I think there must have been a misunderstanding between you." He looked at the two girls, "you came to look for me after you have somehow found out I was brought here, is that correct?"
Saturn and Neo Moon nodded.
Sailor Somnus lowered her eyes, her face now red after she has realized her mistake. "Forgive me Helios-sama, I should have been more tactful! And to you Neo Sailor Moon, I give you my sincerest apology."
Neo Moon raised her friends, looking slightly uncertain at seeing such a graceful and powerful senshi bow to her. "No, we were the one who should have explained ourselves more. It's okay, you don't have to apologize."
"We should apologize too…" Sailor Ceres spoke up meekly, evidently through her sister's prodding to be their spokeswoman. Everyone turned to look at her, her sisters crowded behind her. Ceres' hands were interlaced and she fidgeted a little as she said, "I…I guess I-we shouldn't have said that to you…sorry…"
Sailor Somnus smiled faintly at her and nodded "It was a misunderstanding, I understand now."
The senshis looked at each other and each of them smiled slightly.
Neo Moon sighed inside. It seemed that their biggest problem had been resolved. She turned to look at Helios but saw him throwing a heavy puzzled look at the Quartet. "Who are they?" he asked slowly. Inside he thought they looked extremely familiar.
"They're my senshis, the Sailor Quartet." Neo Moon beamed but her memories were quickly jogged and she realized she had suddenly been too careless in her enthusiasm.
Sailor Quartet…Quartet…In the back of Helios' mind where pieces of memories were hidden and stored, eerie girlish laughs echoed in a blackening dreamscape and whimpered behind the heat of a holy fire and the choking grip of a bridle.
Helios' face blanched and his tore gaze as if burned by what he saw.
"Helios, are you all right?" Neo Moon said softly as she tugged cautiously at his sleeve.
He paused before shifting back to her, manufacturing a brief smile. "I'm fine…"
Another set of footsteps jogged towards them and Helios saw it was Laertes with Horatio following not far behind. Laertes stopped a few feet away from where the group stood and proceeded at a slower pace. Horatio was not far behind but when he saw the situation appeared under control, he stopped to halt his troops then followed his friend.
Laertes looked from Helios to the transformed Ophelia, to the Solar System senshis, and back to his liege again. When he couldn't make sense of them, he asked, "Sire, may I ask who are these people?"
"Neo Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn. Neo Sailor Moon is the crown princess of planet Earth. She and Sailor Saturn are good friends of mine," Helios explained to the two newly arrived girls. "This is Laertes, the Minister of the Interior and behind him is Horatio, Captain of the First Battalion."
Laertes nodded and bowed briefly to Neo Moon who bowed back. She looked over the blue clad young man and felt a little intimidated by his tightly controlled expression and curt manner.
Horatio gave a more amicable welcome when he approached them. Seeing the Sailor Quartet off to the side, he smiled. "And who might you ladies be?"
Horatio's smile instantly melted any of Ceres' shyness as she blushed and touched her cheek. "I'm Sailor Ceres, but do please call me Cere-Cere," she said sweetly.
Pallas smiled cheerfully, no longer threatening to doze off after the sleeping powder had worn off but Sailor Juno put her hand over her sister's mouth and introduced them both instead. "She's Sailor Pallas but call her Palla-Palla. I'm Jun-Jun but right now I'm called Sailor Juno."
Vesta looked at her sisters and smiled. "We're the Sailor Quartet, Neo Sailor Moon's guardians. My real name's Ves-Ves, but I'm Sailor Vesta right now."
Horatio blinked and Laertes turned his attention to them. "You mean you're senshis? Wow, and I thought Ophelia was the only one!" Horatio admitted frankly.
The introductions made, Helios turned to Laertes. "Laertes could you please arrange rooms for them in the palace, something fit for a highly honored visiting ambassador or dignitary."
Before Laertes could answer Sailor Somnus interrupted, "Please allow me do the arrangements Helios-sama." She walked closer to him and a few blue petals fluttered as her fuku faded away and she was Ophelia again. "I would like to compensate for my tactlessness earlier." She said earnestly.
"Of course, thank you Ophelia." Helios smiled at her and Ophelia curtsied. Neo Moon fidgeted and the young minister standing across from her saw her fret. Laertes closed his eyes and coughed. Helios sighed inside. You have other appointments to deal with, now is not the time to get reacquainted Helios thought Laertes was saying something like that to him. Neo Moon seemed to understand too and she opened her mouth as if about to say something but then immediately decided not to. Sensing the disappointment in his Maiden's eyes reminded Helios of her namesake and his chest felt tight from the sudden guilt. He walked closer to the princess and said quietly so only they could hear, "I'm sorry, but I will find time for us to talk later. Please stay here for the time being."
The pink haired senshi nodded unwilling as Helios gave her a parting smile. To Ophelia he thanked her once again before reluctantly walking away. Horatio waved at the girls and followed Helios along with a silent Laertes.
Ceres waved back while Pallas smiled innocently at them and Vesta watched them off. Only Juno did not look so cheerful and wore a long face as she watched the three depart. Neo Moon and Saturn followed Helios with their eyes as he walked away. Inside the pink senshi felt as if someone had splashed her with cold water.
A/N Before anyone says anything I know this is kind of a disappointing reunion. The whole political meeting thing was really hard to write especially when you're trying to make it sound believable, and with my limited knowledge of Economics I hope I haven't made too much of a fool out of myself (sweat drops). I originally wrote more than this but if it were here then it'll be too long and the story would be developing too fast. But don't worry, the more interesting stuff is coming up fast although that means I have to put on my thinking cap because right now this story is only getting more and more complicated.
The Quartet's attacks were based off of their relative Greek/Roman mythological goddesses. Flowers are attributed to Ceres, sacred fire to Vesta, and the Aegis shield to Pallas Athena. Juno's was a bit odd since the only attribute I could think of to use in an attack was Juno's symbol, the peacock and how its feathers were formed from the eyes of Argus. So I kind of made the connection between eyes and illusions and gave Sailor Juno an illusion attack, if that makes any sense. On a side note, some of the character names I used were from Macbeth since Hamlet has a surprisingly limited cast of secondary characters that actually have names. I'm doing this so I don't run out of names and Macbeth is one of the few Shakespeare plays I'm more familiar with. As for Macedonia, Attica, Thrace, and Demetrius those are real places and individual people in Greece and Greek history. I just hope I haven't offended anyone by playing with history (smile & sweat drops). Anyway, please remember to tell me what you think by leaving a review!
