Chapter 9
Minako was woken up by a few shakes. She opened her eyes and realized that
she'd fell asleep on Artemis' shoulder. "Hey, sleepy-head, we're here." He said with a
gentle voice. She got up and took a couple of seconds to reassemble herself. After she's
sure she's presentable, she stepped off the shuttle.
The two of them were escorted to a large white room. The sounds of their heels
echoed as they paced the room, waiting for the famous queen of the moon and her
daughter. Minako let out a sigh as everything she'd felt over the pass couple weeks
seeped into her brain. Sensing her mind tense, Artemis wrapped his arms around her
shoulder and she gladly leaned on him. She always felt safe with him.
Suddenly, the large white doors burst open and two women walked in, followed
by six servants and four soldiers. The two Venusians immediately turned their attention
to the intruders. First stood a tall woman with long silver hair. They're done up in two
buns with a long, thick strand of hair coming down from each. The girl behind her had
her hair done up the same way, except she's blond, her hair a couple of shades darker than
Minako's. Both of them had the sign of the moon on their forehead. Their eyes
immediately connected.
Snapping out of her trance, she joined Artemis on one knee after identifying the
tall woman as Queen Serenity. The queen immediately smiled and swooped down. She
put her arms on Minako's forearms and gently guided her up, Artemis followed.
"Welcome to the moon, Princess Minako," she said in a gentle voice that rang with
clarity and love. She took a step back and introduced the blond behind her. "This is my
daughter, Usagi (I know, it's Serenity. But I didn't want the queen and the princess to
have the same name.) Usagi, why don't you show Artemis and Minako their rooms? I'm
sure they've had a long day. They should get their rest and we'll give them the tour
tomorrow." The girl nodded and the queen left the room.
The minute she was out of earshot, Usagi ran up to Minako and hugged her, much
to her guardian's dismay. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squealed.
The princess and the guardian was surprised for a second, wide-eyed as they
stared at the cheerful princess. "For what? I just arrived…" Minako said softly as the
moon princess stared at her with grateful eyes.
"You have no idea how boring it is for me to stay here, the only teenage girl on
the planet! I've been waiting for you to come for what seemed like forever! Now, come
on! Your living quarters are right next to mine!" She squealed as she took Minako's hands
and ran down the hall. After being stunned for a moment, Artemis ran to catch.
When they reached the main hall, they began to walk slowly. The two princesses
walked next to each other as they chatted heartily and learned about their new friend.
Their guardians walked on either side of them. Artemis kept his gaze on Minako as
scenes of leaving Earth flashed in his mind. The way she cried for leaving that particular
person. He knew in his heart that he'd lost to his rival. His spirits immediately sank.
Before they knew it, they'd arrived to his room. After making sure he's settled,
they walked further down the northern, golden wing of the palace, the part designed
especially for the senshi of Venus.
Finally, they reached a great room with two golden statues on either side of the
great white doors. They were statues of swans, doves, and cranes. All over the walls were
painting of many famous love affairs of both mortals and immortals. Minako was still
amazed that this was all hers.
After the grand tour of the palace, they were back in Minako's room. Luna,
Princess Usagi's guardian retired back to her quarters while Usagi stayed. Usagi had
volunteered to help the new princess unpack. After taking care of the room, they just sat
and talked. Immediately, they hit it off.
"So, how is Earth like?" Usagi asked as she plopped onto Minako's silk sheets.
She began to look through her cosmetics that were mixed in with Minako's. They decided
that since they're going to live in the same castle, they may as well share their things,
seeing the fact that they look exactly the same and used the same things. Dresses weren't
a problem either. So they decided that they were to keep the gowns in Usagi's room while
the cosmetics and hair supplies were kept in Minako's. Of course, they both had basic and
casual things in their own rooms.
"It is the most beautiful place. Everything is so new and fresh. It's a planet full of
feeling... emotions. The people there are very nice also, once you get to know them. In
fact, my best friends are all on Earth. Have you heard of Prince Endymion and his four
guardians?" she said as she randomly took a golden nail polish and began applying it on
her nails.
Usagi's head snapped up for a second but then went back to studying her newly
painted pink nails. "Of course I have. My mother's been going on and on about whom I'm
going to marry. Did you actually think she'd leave out the perfect and famous Prince
Endymion?" Minako giggled at the thought of the clumsy prince being called perfect. Of
course his smile makes up for everything. 'I wonder what he's doing now? Maybe he
finally found somebody... Well, I guess Usagi gets the same find a prince thing like I do.
Wait, I wonder if...' Minako thought as a scheme began to form in her head.
"You know, Endymion is perfect. He's smart, handsome, and he's got a killer
smile. You'll like him. I hope you could meet him. Trust me, he's absolutely Prince
Charming. The only reason we are not engaged is because we're more like brothers and
sisters," Minako began to brag about her best friend to Usagi.
"Prince Charming? What, does he ride a beautiful horse also?" Usagi laughed
herself. She'd seen too many silly suitors.
"Actually, he has a stunning black horse and he's a great rider. You know, I
should really introduce you two sometime. But I'm probably not going to see him in
years," she sighed. She felt tears swell up in her eyes again as she thought about the
beautiful blue orb. Though, she quickly concealed it and continued to work on her perfect
plan. 'Usagi and Endymion were made for each other. I promised him I'd look out for
girls here.' So she kept telling Usagi about all the good things that Endymion did.
Hearing all those memories from Minako, she could hear that she's telling the
truth. And slowly, she found herself falling for this prince before even meeting him.
Minako could see that by the glint in her eyes and she smiled proudly to herself. She
began blowing on her nails when she noticed that her ring began to glitter with a red
glow. It was then that she knew that Usagi and Endymion were meant to be.
Usagi noticed Minako staring at something on her hand. "Hey, cool ring! Where'd
you get it?"
Minako was shocked back in reality. "Well, your Prince Charming gave it to me
as a departing gift. There's a secret to it. Promise you won't tell anybody?" She held out
her pinky for a pinky swear and the moon princess just giggled. "What's so funny?"
"It's just that whenever I try to do a pinky swear with someone, they always just
laugh at me. Now I really have someone..." Minako could see Usagi's eyes glisten with
tears and realized how alone she's been all these years. Immediately, Minako hugged her
new friend.
"And I'll always be with you, no matter what. I promise. Now, for the secret. This
ring has magic in it. It allows me to see friendship and love. One thing is I can't see the
relationships between me and other people. But that's okay," she said.
"Wow. Well, I guess it really figures since you're the Princess of Love. So, I'm
sure that you must have a million guys at your feet, right?" The conversation carried on
for hours until dinnertime.
"Girls, you do know that the other guardians are arriving this month. Sometime in the next two weeks," Queen
Serenity stated at the dinner table. "Then we can continue training. Now that we've got
the formalities aside, let's eat!"
Minako stared across the table and noticed that Artemis and Usagi's guardian,
Luna, was getting along great. She felt a pang of jealousy at first, but when Artemis
locked eyes with her, she could tell that she was still his one and only and felt assured.
Minako was woken up by a few shakes. She opened her eyes and realized that
she'd fell asleep on Artemis' shoulder. "Hey, sleepy-head, we're here." He said with a
gentle voice. She got up and took a couple of seconds to reassemble herself. After she's
sure she's presentable, she stepped off the shuttle.
The two of them were escorted to a large white room. The sounds of their heels
echoed as they paced the room, waiting for the famous queen of the moon and her
daughter. Minako let out a sigh as everything she'd felt over the pass couple weeks
seeped into her brain. Sensing her mind tense, Artemis wrapped his arms around her
shoulder and she gladly leaned on him. She always felt safe with him.
Suddenly, the large white doors burst open and two women walked in, followed
by six servants and four soldiers. The two Venusians immediately turned their attention
to the intruders. First stood a tall woman with long silver hair. They're done up in two
buns with a long, thick strand of hair coming down from each. The girl behind her had
her hair done up the same way, except she's blond, her hair a couple of shades darker than
Minako's. Both of them had the sign of the moon on their forehead. Their eyes
immediately connected.
Snapping out of her trance, she joined Artemis on one knee after identifying the
tall woman as Queen Serenity. The queen immediately smiled and swooped down. She
put her arms on Minako's forearms and gently guided her up, Artemis followed.
"Welcome to the moon, Princess Minako," she said in a gentle voice that rang with
clarity and love. She took a step back and introduced the blond behind her. "This is my
daughter, Usagi (I know, it's Serenity. But I didn't want the queen and the princess to
have the same name.) Usagi, why don't you show Artemis and Minako their rooms? I'm
sure they've had a long day. They should get their rest and we'll give them the tour
tomorrow." The girl nodded and the queen left the room.
The minute she was out of earshot, Usagi ran up to Minako and hugged her, much
to her guardian's dismay. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squealed.
The princess and the guardian was surprised for a second, wide-eyed as they
stared at the cheerful princess. "For what? I just arrived…" Minako said softly as the
moon princess stared at her with grateful eyes.
"You have no idea how boring it is for me to stay here, the only teenage girl on
the planet! I've been waiting for you to come for what seemed like forever! Now, come
on! Your living quarters are right next to mine!" She squealed as she took Minako's hands
and ran down the hall. After being stunned for a moment, Artemis ran to catch.
When they reached the main hall, they began to walk slowly. The two princesses
walked next to each other as they chatted heartily and learned about their new friend.
Their guardians walked on either side of them. Artemis kept his gaze on Minako as
scenes of leaving Earth flashed in his mind. The way she cried for leaving that particular
person. He knew in his heart that he'd lost to his rival. His spirits immediately sank.
Before they knew it, they'd arrived to his room. After making sure he's settled,
they walked further down the northern, golden wing of the palace, the part designed
especially for the senshi of Venus.
Finally, they reached a great room with two golden statues on either side of the
great white doors. They were statues of swans, doves, and cranes. All over the walls were
painting of many famous love affairs of both mortals and immortals. Minako was still
amazed that this was all hers.
After the grand tour of the palace, they were back in Minako's room. Luna,
Princess Usagi's guardian retired back to her quarters while Usagi stayed. Usagi had
volunteered to help the new princess unpack. After taking care of the room, they just sat
and talked. Immediately, they hit it off.
"So, how is Earth like?" Usagi asked as she plopped onto Minako's silk sheets.
She began to look through her cosmetics that were mixed in with Minako's. They decided
that since they're going to live in the same castle, they may as well share their things,
seeing the fact that they look exactly the same and used the same things. Dresses weren't
a problem either. So they decided that they were to keep the gowns in Usagi's room while
the cosmetics and hair supplies were kept in Minako's. Of course, they both had basic and
casual things in their own rooms.
"It is the most beautiful place. Everything is so new and fresh. It's a planet full of
feeling... emotions. The people there are very nice also, once you get to know them. In
fact, my best friends are all on Earth. Have you heard of Prince Endymion and his four
guardians?" she said as she randomly took a golden nail polish and began applying it on
her nails.
Usagi's head snapped up for a second but then went back to studying her newly
painted pink nails. "Of course I have. My mother's been going on and on about whom I'm
going to marry. Did you actually think she'd leave out the perfect and famous Prince
Endymion?" Minako giggled at the thought of the clumsy prince being called perfect. Of
course his smile makes up for everything. 'I wonder what he's doing now? Maybe he
finally found somebody... Well, I guess Usagi gets the same find a prince thing like I do.
Wait, I wonder if...' Minako thought as a scheme began to form in her head.
"You know, Endymion is perfect. He's smart, handsome, and he's got a killer
smile. You'll like him. I hope you could meet him. Trust me, he's absolutely Prince
Charming. The only reason we are not engaged is because we're more like brothers and
sisters," Minako began to brag about her best friend to Usagi.
"Prince Charming? What, does he ride a beautiful horse also?" Usagi laughed
herself. She'd seen too many silly suitors.
"Actually, he has a stunning black horse and he's a great rider. You know, I
should really introduce you two sometime. But I'm probably not going to see him in
years," she sighed. She felt tears swell up in her eyes again as she thought about the
beautiful blue orb. Though, she quickly concealed it and continued to work on her perfect
plan. 'Usagi and Endymion were made for each other. I promised him I'd look out for
girls here.' So she kept telling Usagi about all the good things that Endymion did.
Hearing all those memories from Minako, she could hear that she's telling the
truth. And slowly, she found herself falling for this prince before even meeting him.
Minako could see that by the glint in her eyes and she smiled proudly to herself. She
began blowing on her nails when she noticed that her ring began to glitter with a red
glow. It was then that she knew that Usagi and Endymion were meant to be.
Usagi noticed Minako staring at something on her hand. "Hey, cool ring! Where'd
you get it?"
Minako was shocked back in reality. "Well, your Prince Charming gave it to me
as a departing gift. There's a secret to it. Promise you won't tell anybody?" She held out
her pinky for a pinky swear and the moon princess just giggled. "What's so funny?"
"It's just that whenever I try to do a pinky swear with someone, they always just
laugh at me. Now I really have someone..." Minako could see Usagi's eyes glisten with
tears and realized how alone she's been all these years. Immediately, Minako hugged her
new friend.
"And I'll always be with you, no matter what. I promise. Now, for the secret. This
ring has magic in it. It allows me to see friendship and love. One thing is I can't see the
relationships between me and other people. But that's okay," she said.
"Wow. Well, I guess it really figures since you're the Princess of Love. So, I'm
sure that you must have a million guys at your feet, right?" The conversation carried on
for hours until dinnertime.
"Girls, you do know that the other guardians are arriving this month. Sometime in the next two weeks," Queen
Serenity stated at the dinner table. "Then we can continue training. Now that we've got
the formalities aside, let's eat!"
Minako stared across the table and noticed that Artemis and Usagi's guardian,
Luna, was getting along great. She felt a pang of jealousy at first, but when Artemis
locked eyes with her, she could tell that she was still his one and only and felt assured.