Writer's Notes: I apologise for the long time between updates, grad school has unfortunately gotten the best of me. Please consider leaving me a review if you are enjoying this story, and thanks muchly to all who have reviewed, added the story or me to their favourites or followed us. I appreciate all the comments, they have always reminded me that I need to post more on this story, so I hope everyone enjoys this next, albeit short, chapter! :)

It has also come recently to my attention that bravehost, the free website server that I was using to post fanart from this story as well as others, among random information on my fanfiction, has become drastically changed. They have changed their free server, so the previous URL given to fanart and such is no longer valid. Please stay tuned for a new web address where images, information, etc, can then be found (udate: see next chapter). Thank you.

nii-juu-ichi: wherein saturn-hime's birth is an ill omen

Queen Rhea was an exquisite woman with flowing hair the colour of the sun-star rising over clear waters. Her eyes were dark purple, lined finely with white residue crushed from the rare mineral, white galena, and her cheeks were smeared with rose-coloured mica powder, giving her a glow that paralleled that of her High Queen. Her charcoal-silver dress wrapped around her body and over one shoulder, to be tied around her stomach, still swollen from giving birth less than a sun pass ago. Hidden within the warmth of her arms, and cocooned tenderly in light purple cloth, was a baby girl with a head full of dark purple hair. Queen Rhea was pressing her painted lips to her baby's forehead when Princess Serenity entered.

With one leg crossing over the other and a slight bend of the knees, the Moon Princess curtsied to the Queen of Saturn-sei. "Queen Rhea-sama, Princess Saturn-hime," she acknowledged graciously before turning toward her mother and Prince Endymion. "Momma-sama, Endymion-sama."

Queen Serenity came forward to stand before her daughter. She ran her hands along the satin of her white dress, smoothing the unwrinkled fabric, before wringing them together and clasping them in front of her. "Serenity, my beloved daughter," her melodic voice was higher than the princess was accustomed to, there was an edge of desperation laced within it. She unclasped her hands, running them along her arms as though the warm evening air cooled her.

"I am aware that the rumours of war have reached even the darkest star at the edge of the universe, and I do not wish for you to hear this from anyone except your loving mother. Prince Endymion has informed me that Queen Coronaeus has offered her militia to Queen Kalyke. That is the sixth alliance that Kalyke has forged.

"There is a dark omen associated with the birth of Saturn-hime. She is the protector of the star of rebirth and destruction; through her limitless powers, she is able to destroy a dying era. With war imminent, her birth symbolises death, decay and devastation to our kingdoms. Until this time, Rhea has always miscarried or the infant was stillborn.

"I must admit, I was glad. It is apparent to me that to encounter Kalyke in war would mean the end of our era and the beginning of a new one. I do not wish to surrender to the Earth Queen, Serenity. I will continue to forge alliances myself, and hopefully together we can silence Kalyke and her high general, without the needless bloodshed. I thought you should know, Serenity, before you hear the rumours."

Princess Serenity's voice caught in her throat as she listened to her mother's words. With the power emanating from the Silver Moon Crystal, time passed more slowly for the mortals of the Orion Arm and outer galaxies. In half a millennium, a mere flicker on the mortal's lives, Serenity had seen her mother's hair shine with more silvery-white, her eyes weary with fine lines around the edges. When the Queen continued, Serenity snapped from her reverie.

"I have an important mission for you. Something that I cannot entrust with anyone else. In the galaxy Rodinia, there is a small planet ruled by Queen Hera. I want you to take a message to her. Leave tomorrow with your four guardians." Queen Serenity placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "We must act promptly, Serenity, if our peaceful future is to be preserved."

/end nii-juu-nii

in the next instalment:

nii-juu-san: wherein seiya-kun would like to se odango-hime again