Hunched over a book, Ami ran a hand through her thick blue hair in frustration.
She'd been sitting at the dark hardwood table for at least two hours meticulously trying to figure out what this text meant. All of this seemed so nonsensical to her… theories on containing magic, principles on containing it, techniques of harvesting and controlling 'tyella bursts' whatever that was. The table of contents had been of little help, though the Tyldran was listed as an example numerous times throughout the book. Magic, just like to all the other senshi, had just come to her. She'd been presented with her henshin stick, and the words just flowed from her mouth and the magic took over. There was no learning involved, just instinct, and lots and lots of experience.
Ami surmised that if Usagi had seen these theories, she would have never transformed in her life. The complex archaic wording had left her rereading paragraphs, although it was a very interesting perspective. She couldn't just skim it, and that frustrated her; every word needed to be read carefully for her to even try to begin to comprehend what was going on. She groaned, all that she had accomplished really was succeeding in giving herself a headache.
She pulled her eyes from the book, looking around at the vast array of books that lined the turquoise shelves. Her mind wandered over her mission: What question should she ask the librarian, in fact who was the librarian? She had to do this right, asking the wrong question she could get the wrong answer, or worse yet, no answer at all.
It was time for a break. She closed the text carefully, afraid the ancient pages would crumble if she was too harsh on the pages, picked up the leather bound text and began to wonder aimlessly around the library. With luck, she'd find an information desk.
It was only after walking up and down a few rows of shelves stacked almost to the ceiling that she heard a strong yell of "Mizuko!"Ami's hands clutched the book tightly in surprise and she turned around, but the tall shelves blocked her view giving her no indication of what was going on.
A loud "shhhh!" followed that seemed only to be a few rows away, and Ami quickly headed in that direction.
She turned a row to see a tall slender women dressed in a simplistic royal blue dress. Her blue hair was long and braided down her back in a tight French braid, glasses resting on her head.
She looked at Ami with an stoic expression, as if she were sizing her up, when Reita and Rei turned the corner behind her.
Reita spoke loudly, "Ahh! There you are, Mizuko. It is good to see you."
Mizuko pivoted with grace, lips thin. "Princess Reita, what do I owe the interruption?" She smiled slightly. Reita pushed her pink hair out of her eyes, while
glancing at Ami.
"Business, of course. This...this is Rei."
Rei and Ami had been staring at each other trying to nonverbally communicate how to handle running into each other.
Rei smiled and did a short bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Mizuko nodded, but had picked up on Rei and Ami's body language. "Do...do you two know each other?"
Ami answered no while Rei answered yes, bringing awkward silence. Reita just looked at Mizuko, "They've got explaining to do and here is not the place."
Mizuko nodded. "Very well, follow me." A quick pivot and Mizuko walked brisky down the long walls of books. Reita grabbed Rei by the hand and Ami followed slightly behind. She watched how Princess Reita, dressed in a loose cotton shirt and pants outfit, bounced slightly with each step. She seemed to radiate energy and attitude in a way that felt more refreshing than rude.
Within a few minutes of walking they arrived in a small windowless conference room, with a small round table and chairs. Ami's fingers brushed the small inlay turquoise design around the edges... she felt like she vaguely remembered this place.
Reita grabbed a seat and plopped down before anyone else settled and blurted "Setsuna sent us reinforcements."
Mizuko's eyes widened, while gracefully taking a seat. "Are you sure?"
"I swear on Goddess herself. These two, Rei and... Who are you anyway?" Reita realized that she had just taken Rei on her 'yes' and had not been introduced.
Immediately Rei reassured, "Ami, it is okay. They're the Senshi. Show her your henshin stick"
"It's true. Setsuna sent us. I am Mizuno, Ami." She closed her eyes and on the table her henshin stick appeared, glowing with a soft blue aura. Mizuko took in a slow deep breath. "So it seems."
Ami touched the henshin stick and it vanished as quickly as it came and Reita got right to business. "Its worse than we thought. I'm going to have to build ... it, and Rei, she's the future senshi of mars, has the power to show me how. I felt it running through my body in a way I had never even imagined."
"Reita... you know the cost!" Mizuko hunched forward, her blue braid falling onto the table. "You can't just..."
"If it is bad enough that Setsuna is sending a team through time, its bad enough for me to die for. It is just one more life, Mizuko." Reita's tone remained buisness-like. It fell into silence.
Ami and Rei both knew that they were intruding on a conversation that had taken place before. It was awkward, but clear that Princess Mizuko was attempting to put some feelings into words. But after a moment she sat up straight, "I can try to find a better way..."
"We don't have the time, and you have combed this library. The answer is a white tyldran and you know it." Reita's voice dropped to a reassuring tone, "Mizuko, I...I have made my peace."
"Do the others know about the Tyldran? What about them?" Mizuko pointed at Rei and Ami.
Reita shook her head. "Neither, except Kyte knows about Rei, and the man she was with. How many of you are there anyway?"
Rei answered "I'm sorry, but we cannot tell you that."
"Of course." Mizuko sighed. "How much do you know about what is happening?"
"Too little, unfortunately."Reita answered for them. "Do you want to tell them the short version?"
Mizuko suddenly looked tired. "Very Well. In short, we have it on good word that king" Mizuko said king like it was the most vile word in the solar system, "Kinryoku will pledge his allegiance to King Kyoufu part of the civil war on Uranus, and increase the arrests and torture of civilians. It is expected that he may simply use his powers to wipe out the entire southern half of Uranus. The civilian loss would be astronomical. In addition, a tyldran was released over the moon itself, and civilians have turned into an army working for Kinryoku...making it much more difficult for us to attempt to overthrow him with the Queen. Ultimately, we're playing a very dangerous game that is currently treason. I am carefully playing sides... though Reita and Mokuko here has made her allegiance official with Kyte and the others."
Ami nodded, "Reita wants to release a white tyldran to counteract the effects on the moon, so you can focus on protecting the civilians on Uranus and overthrowing the king?"
"Exactly. I know you want help on making the tyldran...and I am unsure if I can give it to you. I cannot leave this place or Kinryoku will know."
Reita nodded. "I came to you for you to share your knowledge. I have to do this."
Mizuko closed her eyes. "Are you sure it is the only way?"
"It is the only way."
It fell into silence again as Mizuko tried to gather words. She traced the swirls of the blue-green inlay before quietly saying, "I..." Emotions simply were not Mizuko's strong suit. Reita reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "Whatever happens, it will be okay."
Their eyes locked. Mizuko closed her eyes and looked away, mostly to stop from crying. She spoke softly, pulling herself emotionally away from the fact that she was instructing her friend to sacrifice herself. "We've been over the basic concepts...its mostly about focus of positive things, and the sacrifice of good makes the magic powerful enough to condense it. Ultimately it comes down to your motivation and thoughts, and the sheer magic you put into a tiny space. Any stray thoughts can make it not work... it says that the magic is very painful, Reita."
"I know."
"No matter what, once you start, you cannot stop. Any falter and it will dissipate, and it will be for nothing. The exact words are in that book." She pointed to the book Ami had brought with her. "Apparently, Ami-san can read it."
Ami looked at her quizzically. Mizuko smiled slightly. "You did not notice the enchantments did you?"
Ami shook her head.
"You are the only one outside of myself and the Mercurian Royal family who can read that text. It is enchanted to look like gibberish to anyone to opens it; the kings do not even know it exists. And you picked it off the shelf just so easily... I had been watching you for most of the time you were here."
"I...had no idea."
"Well, you must go back to the moon with them and finish the instructions and make sure that Reita knows them by heart. Take care of her."
Mizuko stood up, "I'm sorry but I must depart quickly... there are meetings I must attend."
Reita came up beside her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, Mizuko... I know I have given you a hard time..."
Mizuko pulled her into a hug. "May the Goddesses bless you for eternity, Princess Reita."
After a moment's silence Mizuko left the room quickly. The only sound she made was the fading echo of her footsteps down the hall.
Mamoru stood in his tent, shifting back and forth in a simple chainmail armor. He felt inexplicably strange- he had never worn armor untransformed and the weight felt so different. He moved his body to figure out the speed of his movements, and picked up a long sheathed sword from the ground and faceted it to his belt. Bending down he tightened his boots, grabbed his bag and walked out of the tent where Kyte had been waiting.
Kyte was standing outside in a deep conversation with another soldier. His attention was completely focused on the hushed hurried whispers of the soldier. He nodded. His tone was very serious, "I understand." The soldier scurried away and he glanced at Mamoru.
"Are you ready?" He asked, his purple eyes scanning his outfit. "The armor fits you well, I am glad."
"As ready as I ever will be." Mamoru shrugged, he had the feeling he was going to be exhausted quickly carrying this heavy weight. He wished he could just transform, but there were far to many people around, and he had already started rumors.
"Very well. You will be traveling Northeast, through the forest. Try to stay off paths, as they have been heavily guarded by Kinryoku's forces. It is about a days journey. Camp on the outskirts of town, still in the forest and make your way to the castle by morning. Find Yumeko, who will know the Queen's schedule and give you instructions on where to meet her. Yumeko won't know who you are, but just introduce yourself as sent by Lady Jodi- with the code phrase "our love knows no bounds."
Yumeko will make sure you have a place to stay in the castle servants quarters. The Queen will find you, and give a return letter. On the way back you must hurry as quickly as possible... it is imperative that you return before the party. I am unsure how long it will take her to compose a reply...she is being watched constantly."
"I understand. Kyte, tell Rei where I have gone, she will want to know."
"Of course. You should go now."
Mamoru adjusted the pack on his back and started walking towards the treeline. After a few minutes the noises of the camp disappeared, and small sounds of nature became louder. He skirted between trees, every once in awhile checking a compass for bearing. The plantlike was nothing like he had seen on earth, it was intermixed in blues and greens, he surmised to take in light from the Earth as well as the sun. The trees were dense and he could not see the sky, so he used a small lantern to light the area around him. Kyte had given him clear instructions to avoid traps laid to catch Kinryoku's forces, but in this little light, he thought he would be relying more on luck. After a few more minutes, and making sure he was entirely alone, he transformed into Endymion.
His magical armor was so much lighter, and the power of the earth gave him extra strength, it made it easier to move through the uneven terrain. Every once in awhile he took out his sword to cut through some thick brush. He could feel in the back of his head Usagi's worry and exhaustion, and he hoped that she was okay. He could rarely feel her emotions unless they were very strong- he knew something was not quite right.
He heard hushed voices in the distance, so he froze hunching to the ground. His breathing slowed as he listened carefully. He was pretty sure he could outrun a non-magical guard without an issue, but really did not want to find out. Accidentally, he shifted his weight, making the ground beneath him heard the guards spin in his direction. "Who is there! Come out on the order of King Kinryoku and his Royal Guard."
His hand instinctively went around his sword. He needed to see who he was up against, and two on one wasn't bad odds. He'd faced worse. He stood up and drew it in one fluid motion, facing the them in a battle stance. They quickly drew their own swords.
Mamoru quickly looked them over. The men looked young and fit, possibly in their early 20's. Blond haired light eyed soldiers in a simplistic armor. On the left shoulder, there was a round navy pendant with a golden crescent moon. In that moment the left one lunged forward, sword out to kill.
He stepped aside and parried, keeping an eye on the other man. He seemed content to sit back and watch, but Mamoru knew he could jump in at any moment. Another perry. Jumping back, Mamoru landed next to a tall tree. The space provided a second to gauge his next move, but the other soldier moved out of his line of sight with lighting speed. Instinctively he took the offensive to injure his opponent.
The gleaming sword glanced the soldier who pulled to the side. The soft impact threw Mamoru off balance enough to send him into a roll, which he came out of with ease. His opponents breathing was heavy, which was a sign that combat was not his strength. His eyes darted to attempt to find the other soldier.
He barely had time to move away as a sword came rushing towards him. He registered the searing pain in his left arm, but ignored it to block another attack. These men were skilled.
Mamoru jumped, high into the tree where he landed on a strong branch. Now, it was time to run.