THE SECOND STRING
Chapter 8: "Faint Heart Ne'er Won Fair Maid"
A neo-Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
"I am Perle," the white-haired elf-boy said. "I have responded to yon maiden's summons." He looked around. "Is Chibi-Usa here?"
"No, she's not," Cere approached him. Perle displayed instant disappointment. "But thank you for coming."
"Can you tell me where she is?" Perle asked.
"Why do you want to know?"
Perle grew melancholy. "I love her. And I know that she has forsaken me for another. Given the chance, I would try to plead my case for her favors. I bear the Dream Guardian Helios no ill will. Of course he could not help but fall in love with her. Who could resist her charm? He was blessed by the gods the moment she smiled upon him."
"Then why try to keep wooing her?" Hotaru asked, getting up from where she'd been kneeling. "She's made her choice."
"Hope," Perle sighed. "Perhaps desperation. I wish her only happiness. I could do nothing else. But if there is one chance in a billion that I could tempt her to my side, I must take it. The thought of her standing by my side, of her looking upon me with favor, of her loving me as I love her drives me to take that chance, no matter how slim."
"Do you wish her happiness?" Cere questioned. "Pupuran seemed to have other ideas."
"Please forgive my brother," Perle offered, embarrassed. "He has a strong sense of family and an aggressive nature. It does not always lead him to make the best of choices. I hope he was not very troublesome to you."
"He's dead," Hotaru said. "I killed him in battle. It wasn't my intention, but I'm responsible." She bowed. "I'm sorry for that."
"I sensed he was gone," Perle sighed. "It is troubling, but given his temper, I fear it was inevitable. If you were defending yourself or your friend, I bear you no ill-will."
"We're very glad to hear that," Cere ventured. "Does this mean that any hostilities between us are over?"
"Any hostilities were the product of Pupuran," Perle replied, "and died with him. I bear no malice. I only seek Chibi-Usa. Please tell me where she is."
"I'm sorry, Perle," Cere began to explain, "but we don't think that would be a very good idea."
"Why not? I vow I will do her no harm! I love her! I could never act against her!" Perle proclaimed.
"We're not even certain that she knows you," Jun spoke up. Perle looked at her curiously. "You visited our world a thousand years ago and met her then, right?" He nodded. "We have no record of that visit. And no one from that time remembers it happening. So while you may be in love with her, I can guarantee that she's not in love with you."
"But," Perle said, his heart breaking, "she gave me a token of her love. She gave me cookies."
"It never happened," Jun said. "At least not in this dimension."
"So you will not tell me?" Perle asked. He seemed broken.
"What would be the point?" Cere asked. "I'm sorry. Is there something any of us can do to soften this blow to you?"
Perle responded by bringing his pipe to his lips. Cere's eyes grew big. She lunged at him, trying to grab the pipe. But a tune came out.
Cere, Jun and Hotaru stopped in their tracks. Smiles of child-like wonder grew on their faces as they stared at a fantasy only they could see. Perle's song concluded and he took the pipe from his mouth. He leaned in to Cere.
"Please tell me where Chibi-Usa is," Perle requested.
"OK, Mister," Cere smiled and said. "She's . . ."
"Go beddie-bye, Cere-Cere!" Palla-Palla exclaimed. Cere's eyes fluttered closed and she sank to the floor. "Bad Elf-Man! No fair putting a spell on Cere-Cere!"
"How do you resist?" Perle asked in wonder.
"Palla-Palla knows better than to listen to the pretty song in her head!" Palla-Palla responded angrily. "Now you bring Cere-Cere and the others back!"
"I would not have harmed her," Perle replied in anguish. "But I must know! I must find Chibi-Usa and make her remember me!"
"No! You better go or Palla-Palla will make you sorry!" And a henshin stick materialized in Palla-Palla's hand.
Perle brought his pipe to his mouth. Then the door to the living quarters opened and a full grown female timber wolf bounded into the room. She took one step and then leaped at Perle, fangs bared. Perle quickly blew a short tune and faded from the room. Vesta landed and turned, then sniffed the air. While that happened, Hotaru and Jun recovered from their mutual hallucination. Palla-Palla ran over to Cere.
"Whoever that was, he's gone now," Vesta the wolf proclaimed. "I got your call. What the Hell happened in here?"
"Wakey wakey, Cere-Cere!" Palla-Palla cried and shook her sister Amazon. Cere began to stir.
"What?" she groaned groggily. "Did I pass out?"
"Palla-Palla is sorry," Palla-Palla whimpered. "She had to make you go beddie-bye. The bad elf-man put a spell on Cere-Cere and was going to make her tell where The Princess is."
"Where is he now?" Jun asked.
"Split before I could get my jaws on his throat," scowled Vesta. "Who was that? Another one of Pupuran's running mates?"
"His brother," Cere sighed, rubbing her temple. "The one Usa was supposedly engaged to. He seemed the more rational of the two at first."
"Guess love can make you a little crazy after all," Jun quipped.
"Did I tell him where to find Usa?" Cere asked. Palla-Palla shook her head. "So we have to assume he'll be back. And we need some sort of counter against that pipe of his. If it can hypnotize us or make us hallucinate, we're all vulnerable to it."
"Except Palla-Palla," Vesta said, regaining human form. "How do you do that? And can you do it for us?"
"Palla-Palla hears a song in her head," the teen explained. "But she can tell the song is fibbing, so she doesn't listen to it. Palla-Palla could tell you all not to listen to it when it fibs. She can do it with her head."
"Do it," Cere nodded. "Then we have to figure out where Perle is going to strike next."
In the Senshi meeting room in the Palace, Sailor Saturn and the Asteroid Senshi met with Luna, Artemis and Diana. The cats were reviewing what Pallas told them, Luna and Artemis trying to interpret Pallas's childish way of labeling things.
"I'm concerned that Perle seems to know of the existence of Helios," Diana pointed out in her normal throaty purr, "both as Usa's betrothed and as the Guardian of Pleasant Dreams."
"I think Pupuran knew about him, too," Saturn added.
"You think Helios is in some sort of danger?" Artemis asked.
"Not from Perle," Ceres judged. "He struck me as someone who doesn't want to hurt people."
"He made us think we were little girls so we'd be more receptive to being questioned," Juno argued.
"Yes, but I think that's just desperation," Cere maintained. "He's desperate to find Usa and it pushed him to do something I don't think he'd normally do."
"So what else does his desperation push him to do?" Vesta asked pointedly. "If he finds the honeymoon spot, is Helios safe? Is The Princess? We have to take this guy out."
"Everything is not a gang war, Vesta," bristled Ceres.
"Order, please," scowled Luna. "Perle must not be 'taken out', primarily because it's not something you do as Senshi, and secondarily because he's needed to reverse the spell on His and Her Majesties and the elders." She gathered herself. "In any event, I believe Elysian should be notified. Candide will want to know of the potential threat to her son so she can take any countermeasures she might deem necessary. And to be prepared in the event that Perle learns that Helios and Her Ladyship are honeymooning in Elysian."
"Agreed," nodded Ceres. She glanced over at Pallas. "Pallas, were you able to 'hear' anything from Perle while he was here?"
"Mr. Elf-man can be a very nice person," Pallas recounted. "He was very sorry for what his brother did. And he loves The Princess very much. As much as Prince Horsie-Man. And he was very sad when he found out she got married."
"No idea where he goes when he disappears?" Vesta asked. Pallas shook her head. "Too bad. That's the kind of info that would be useful."
"How are the King and Queen and the elders doing?" Saturn asked.
"Still comatose," Luna replied. "The doctors say they're no worse for their condition, but they have no means of bringing them out of it."
"I could try . . ." Saturn ventured.
"No, Sailor Saturn," Luna cut her off.
"But I won't lose control of my healing ability," Saturn protested. "It's one of the few reliable things I can do."
"And it's also a considerable strain on your heart," Luna replied in a manner that didn't invite argument. "It's a generous offer, but one which must be refused." Saturn sat back, her face twisted up in frustration.
"Perhaps we should contact Candide now?" Diana suggested diplomatically.
"Yes, quite," Luna nodded. "Normally communications between Earth and Elysian is done by someone with a telepathic connection to the realm itself, such as His Majesty or Helios. Although Her Ladyship has managed it as well, for reasons I can't begin to guess. Lacking them, contact will have to be initiated by you, Sailor Pallas."
"Pallas isn't sure she can do it," Pallas grimaced.
"That is where your fellow Senshi will assist you," Luna instructed. "Join hands, girls, and focus your energy to Pallas, much the same way you focus for Planet Attack or Sailor Teleport. Pallas, you will reach out with your thoughts and call for Candide." The cat smiled. "I'm certain she'll hear you."
The Senshi did as they were instructed. The five joined hands around the table. Everyone closed their eyes to focus. Within moments, the jewels on their tiaras began to glow. Pallas stiffened and sucked air in through her nose. Bearing down, the little blue Senshi furrowed her brow and began calling telepathically for Candide.
In the mind's eye of all five Senshi, they suddenly found themselves atop a grassy hill. Atop the hill was a grand marble and sandstone temple, its columns suggesting ancient Greek architecture. The sky was as blue as any of them could recall seeing. A breeze wafted across their faces, spreading a hint of hibiscus.
From out of the temple came Candide. Still the picture of mature feminine beauty and grace, she descended the steps of the temple and walked up to them. Her flowing silver white hair lightly played with the breeze behind her and her flowing white gown suggested her figure and concealed her steps. Her expression was one of mild surprise.
"You are The Princess's Senshi," she said. "Has something happened?"
"We've been attacked," Ceres began, "by two beings we've never encountered before. They're after Usa. One wanted revenge on her for marrying your son, while the other one wants to woo her away from him."
"Most distressing. Clearly they have yet to succeed. My son and daughter-in-law remain undisturbed here."
"That's good to hear," Ceres answered. "We believe they don't know where Usa and Helios are honeymooning. But if Perle finds out, he could bring harm either to Elysian or to Helios himself."
"Perle, did you say?" Candide demanded.
"You know him?" Ceres asked.
"You five must come to Elysian at once," Candide declared. "From here, I may more easily direct your efforts to defend your Princess and my son. Please come as soon as you can. I will be waiting."
And the five Senshi found themselves back in the Palace Senshi meeting room. For a moment, everyone seemed at a loss.
"Were you successful?" Diana asked.
"We have to go to Elysian," Ceres told her. "Candide requested it. She seems to be familiar with Perle."
"Yeah, but how we gonna get there?" Vesta asked. "I can't exactly fly us there."
"It should be a simple enough matter for Sailor Teleport," Diana replied. "You've all been to Elysian before. You certainly know the way."
"But can we make it without Usa?" Saturn asked. "Do we have enough power without her?"
Luna came up to her. "I dare say so, Saturn. And might I also say that it's past time you stopped doubting yourself. Your ability is second only to Sailor Moon herself. You've more than enough power to transport yourselves to Elysian."
Saturn looked down, chagrined. Meanwhile, Vesta noticed that Pallas was upset.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"Pallas didn't get to play with the horsies," Pallas said, her lower lip protruding. Vesta reached over and mussed her hair.
Dust swirled on the steps outside the Great Temple of the Dreaming on Elysian. Birds perched on the roof of the temple stopped singing and looked as the swirling air gained form and velocity. A rabbit, foraging in the bushes outside of the temple stopped and stood up, watching the whirlwind. The phenomenon reached an apex and then died away. Inside, where no one had been before, were five Senshi, their hands joined. Instantly Pallas pulled on Ceres' skirt.
"Can Pallas play with the horsies, please?" Pallas asked.
"No, Pallas. We're on a mission," Ceres patiently informed her.
"Can she at least go down and say 'hello'?" Pallas asked hopefully.
"Pallas," Ceres rumbled.
"Later," Vesta leaned in and told her.
As Pallas pouted, the others turned to the temple. Descending the steps were Candide, looking just as she had in their vision, and the temple maidens Ravonna and Fish Eye. Candide walked right up to them and took Ceres' hands.
"I thank you for coming as quickly as you did," Candide smiled as she spoke to Ceres. "You are all great friends of your Princess and good friends of Elysian. May our efforts win the day and protect those we love."
"We'll do our best," Ceres replied. "Do you know who this Perle is? And is what he says correct? Was he at one time in a relationship with Usa?"
"In the mind of what gave birth to him," Candide responded, her brow furrowed. "Come. Join me in the Temple of the Dreaming. I will explain everything, but I will need the powers of the Temple to aid me."
She turned and climbed up the stairs toward the temple, Ravonna and Fish Eye falling in step behind her. Ceres glanced at Juno and got a shrug in return. So she followed, and the Senshi followed her.
Inside the Temple of the Dreaming, there were marble benches along all four bare walls. In the center was a metal brazier. It was a round pan, much like a wok, mounted on four metal legs with ornamental clawed feet carved upon them. Saturn glanced up and saw ornate carvings in the ceiling. They were carvings of gods and monsters, of mythological creatures, muscular heroes and alluring heroines.
"You spoke of Perle and of Pupuran, his 'brother'," Candide said to them. Ravonna and Fish Eye were pouring fuel into the brazier, preparing to light it. "Pupuran does not exist."
"Yeah, he pitched off of the side of the palace," Vesta nodded.
"You misunderstand," Candide said. "Pupuran has never existed, save as a dream given life."
"He seemed pretty real when we ran up against him," Juno remarked.
"Such is the power you face," Candide replied.
"So he was a figment of Perle's imagination?" Ceres asked.
"No. He was brother to Perle only in that Perle is also a dream brought to life," Candide told her. Everyone was stunned.
"Then his story about rescuing Usa as a child and falling in love with her," Saturn stammered out, "never happened because he was never real?"
"Sadly, yes," replied the Mother Dream Guardian.
"OK, I'm confused," grunted Vesta.
"Obviously Perle and Pupuran came from somewhere," Ceres concluded. "Are they residents of Elysian, or are they figments of a more powerful being's imagination?"
"To answer that, you must know the tale of Badiane," Candide replied. She nodded to the temple maidens and they lit the fuel in the brazier.
"Badiane," Saturn frowned. "Is that the evil queen Pupuran said that Perle betrayed? So she's real?"
"Badiane is real," Candide answered. "But Badiane is not a person."
Quickly the room began to fill with a grey smoke.
Continued in Chapter 9