CHAPTER NINE: Change

Seven Years Later

The sun beat down furiously. Beryl lifted the front of her apron to her forehead and dabbed at the sweat forming around her hairline. The work wasn't particularly arduous, but the complete absence of a breeze made lifting even the bed sheets require a Herculean effort. Still, Mechanis would be home soon and she didn't dare fall behind in the laundry. Beryl tossed a clean white sheet over the clothesline and pulled at the sides to make sure it hung evenly. She knelt down to pick up the basket of laundry and as she hastily picked up folds of cloth that had hung out over the rim dangerously close to the ground, a single red rose fell to ground beside her. She looked up and saw no one, but the tall, angular gray shadow of the young man on the other side of the sheet. She collected the rose and brought it to her lips. She loved the soft velvety feel of the petals on her skin. Suddenly, he was next to her and cupping her face in his hands. She had always thought him handsome, but a sudden growth spurt occurring the previous fall had left him breathtaking. His ebony hair sharply contrasted with his light eyes which were now locked with hers. She had to remind herself that she was two years older than he was, that he was still technically only a child. But when he kissed her, she found it utterly impossible to care.

"Let me help you with this stuff," Darien said amiably as he hoisted the basket up to his shoulders before Beryl could protest.

"Darien, don't, he'll be home soon," Beryl urged. She didn't want to think what would happen if she was caught socializing with a boy.

"I'm not afraid of him," Darien scoffed. "He looks at you wrong, I'll run him through with my long sword!"

"You're always threatening to stab people, Darien, ever since we were kids. Would you stop it already?"

"You'd rather I not defend your honor, my lady?" he said innocently with false bravado. Suddenly, his expression changed and he looked serious. He grabbed Beryl around the waist and pulled her body close to his. "I'm going to get you out of here, you know that right?" he said staring deep into her eyes and tousling her amber hair. He had this way of looking at her that made her forget the misery her life had been ever since Mechanis adopted her. Darien was forever promising to whisk her away and take her deep into the woods where no one could find them and they would live happily ever after together. She suspected he said such things out of guilt. Not that her current predicament was any fault of his, but he felt it wrong that he should be adopted by a kindly couple who cherished him as if he were born of their bodies while Beryl was taken in by a cruel tyrant.

….

"It is offensive to our very way of life!" shouted Tharsis, the delegate from Mars. "The Scrolls of Scylla clearly state that only the heavenly princess can rule the heavenly bodies! Earth is destroying the very fabric of our sacred matriarchy!"

Serenity listened patiently as representatives from the Planets took turns addressing what was being termed "the Earthling prince problem."

"While I hesitate to echo the religious concerns of my colleague from Mars," said Calorin, the statesman from Mercury, "I do wonder about the practicality of the situation. On Coronation Day on Earth, as it is done among most of the planetary bodies of the Inner Alliance, the Light is passed from mother to daughter. The Princess received the Light minutes after her birth – the Prince is a mere mortal."

"We acknowledge that he does not possess the power to become the Sailor Soldier," said Jaedite, ambassador from Earth. "But the Prince is all we have. If he cannot be seated, Earth will be thrown into anarchy."

"I'm confused," said Avana, who represented Venus. "I was under the impression that the very idea of Prince Endymion taking the throne sent the country into such turmoil that the child had to go into hiding. And if the people of Earth reject him as Prince, who are we to instate him?"

Jaedite sighed. "It is true that the people needed some time to adjust. But in the years since his absence, public opinion has been swayed our way. And the people of Earth feel that with the Gifting Ceremony coming up, there is no better time than the present to begin the proceedings to seat the Prince."

"Does the sudden change in public opinion have anything to do with the rumors abounding about Negaverse cells infiltrating Earth's civil government?" asked Calorin pointedly.

At this, Jaedite's ears turned noticeably red. "There is no merit to those rumors, Calorin."

"What difference does it make?" interrupted Adrastes, representative of Jupiter. "I mean, honestly. Let's be frank here. The Princess is dead and there is nothing to be done about that. The Light of Earth is gone and there is no bringing it back. What harm in letting the male child rule?"

At this Tharsis stood, quaking with rage. "What harm? It flies in the face of the Gods' will!"

Caloria sighed. "The Gods, the Gods, the Gods. Why must we always be handcuffed by the ridiculous superstition of the Gods!"

Tharsis turned almost purple and looked as if he were about to strike Calorin.

"Settle down," said Adrastes.

Serenity stood and addressed the assembly for the first time. "Ambassador Tharsis," she said calmly. "No one intends to demean your faith. But Ambassador Adrastes is correct – the Light of Earth is gone with the death of the Princess and the Sailor Soldiers are down to four. You are adamant against a male ruling Earth. What do you propose be done instead?"

"It's simple," Tharsis answered, adjusting the sleeves of his robe. "Earth must forfeit its title as a Kingdom and must submit to the rule of the nearest Heavenly Body."

The Council exploded with fury. Everyone began to speak on top of everyone else.

"Oh, so that's your game, is it Tharsis?" growled Calorin. "This is all about expanding Martian territory!"

"Easy for you to judge so far from the Armistice Line!" Tharsis fired back. "You don't live under the constant threat of Saturnian forces returning."

"And neither do you!" shouted Adrastes, who immediately rose from his seat. He towered above the collected assembly. "Are you implying that the rebels could possibly break through Jupiterian lines?"

"Well, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if your Princess behaved more like a monarch instead of flying around in a cockpit day and night! She's liable to get herself killed and then where would we be?"

Adrastes burned scarlet with rage. "Our Princess is a warrior! And when the time comes, she'll be ready to protect the Empire! Which is more than I can say for your Princess who, from what I'm told, sits around meditating all day long."

Calorin and Avana jumped between the two just before the argument elevated to fisticuffs.

"Please! Please!" said Serenity. "Comport yourselves as ambassadors should!" The assembly settled down, but the tension was palpable. "I think we're ready to put this matter to a vote. All in favor of seating Prince Endymion on the throne of the Temperate Kingdom of Earth, please raise your hand."

All but Tharsis raised their hands. "And all opposed?" Only Tharsis.

"The vote being four to one in favor, the motion carries. Prince Endymion will be immediately seated and formally recognized as the one true monarch of Earth." Serenity looked around the room and let her gaze come to rest on Tharsis. "Any other motions?" Sure enough, Tharsis raised his hand.

"The Holy Kingdom of Mars moves, as ever, that the Inner Alliance adopt a resolution seeking formal reconciliation with our brethren, the Kingdoms of the Outer Alliance."

Almost automatically, Serenity replied: "Does anyone second?" And as usual, there was no reply.

….

Moments like this and it's all worth it, Beryl thought contentedly as she lay on the soft earth with her head in Darien's lap and he twisted a lock of her hair between his fingers.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to see you sooner," Darien murmured. "Security's been unusually tight on the main roads these days."

"Have you heard the rumors?"

Darien bristled. "Yeah, I've heard them. It's probably just a lot of trouble being stirred up by the crazy radical religious sects. I swear, this place gets more and more like the red planet each day." Darien didn't bother to hide his derision as he spoke.

"Oh, I don't know that they're so crazy. It's peace they want after all. What's so wrong with that?"

Darien stiffened. "They want peace by any means necessary. I bet if the Martians had just one other Inner Alliance ally, they'd go charging through the Armistice Line and attempt to make peace with the Outers by themselves. Then they'd force the rest of us into submission."

"Oh, come on, Darien," Beryl cajoled, trying to keep the mood light. "Mars isn't so bad. In fact, I heard that the Princess is going to select her husband only from willing volunteers."

Darien snorted. "I guess that's something."

Suddenly, there came a rustling in the bushes. They both looked up and gasped to see a soldier emerge from the woods. He was tall, solidly-built and had a flowing mane of chestnut hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Beryl felt a pang of recognition. Where do I know him from? She looked up at Darien and saw his eyes squinting as if he were trying to remember as well.

"Darien," said the soldier matter-of-factly. Darien looked down at Beryl. She shrugged.

"Yeah?" he asked, not bothering to stand, despite the formal air exuded by the soldier.

"You are to come with me immediately to the Palace in Hadean City."

Darien didn't move. Beryl suddenly felt paralyzed with fear.

"On what charge?" Darien challenged. He tried to sound confident, but Beryl could hear a note of panic in his voice.

The soldier pursed his lips. "You are not under arrest," he replied, "but I do need you to come with me now. It is a matter of the highest importance."

Darien gulped. They both scrambled to their feet and Darien took two steps toward the soldier. He turned back to face Beryl. "I'm not sure what I did," he whispered, reaching out to touch her face. "But I'll come back for you. I'll take you away from here. I swear it."

Beryl nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Darien turned again and began to follow the soldier through the woods. And then he was gone.