The Lady Wore Black: Dark Veils the Night, Mirrors Veils the Person
Ms. J :))
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So Time passed in Crystal Tokyo:
While a day felt long on Earth in the year 20th,
in the 30th century a day was the blink of an eye.
In Time the memories of the Royal Family and the Ladies returned slowly but steadily,
Time passed like blinks of an eye . . . .
But for Princess Serenity, Time wouldn't be kind.
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*Beautiful One, Small One, Lovely One
Starry eyes and starry smile
The Night veils us in Darkness
But with Light mirrors us in our love . . . .*
Sweets dreams
-Helios
A maid tapped on the door to the princess' private chambers then scampered in when her knocks went unanswered:
"Princess Serenity, dear Lady?"
No answer still.
"Princess Serenity, the Queen asked me to remind you about the dinner this evening,
we must be at the tailor's an hour from now. I must get you ready."
Reni was gazing in the mirror with a goofy smile plastered on her face.
"Lady?" The maid stood a respectable distance away.
Reni sighed happily, happily in a day dream. The maid continued.
"She said not another minute longer-any other plans have to be put off."
She snapped from the daze, fully capturing the meaning of the words.
"Tailor? Dinner? Today?"
"She ordered that someone be in to dress you promptly and preparations to be made."
"Tell her I'll be there. . . ." She lazily waved the maid away.
"Yes, dear Lady." The maid slipped out leaving Reni to her perfumed thoughts.
She stared into the massive fireplace across the room-into the flames, into his eyes . . . .
A crisp piece of paper rested under her fingertips composed in dark blue pen.
"The night veils us. . . ." Reni mused to herself. "Mirrors our love."
She clutched Helios's note to her bosom . . . .
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Her parents only told her to be ready for something special . . . .
"Special huh? Not another way to parade me off to the world."
Tonight was a night for celebrating . . . .
The former Sailor Senshi came decked out in exquisite silks and satins and sequins, each wearing a crown on her head that
represented her kingdom, each followed by an entourage of aristocrats and servants and guards with the Inners coming first then the Outers joining them.
Michi would wave to the five gayly while Uranus and Pluto engaged in conversation in intellectual conversation with Mercury and Terra.
Hortaru and Creda were exchanging words as they watched Doreira and Selena delighting in the attention from the younger princes.
Wasn't it only yesterday they were wandering around in ruins?
The massive dinning hall could hold all seven continents inside:
Glass windows stretching as far as the sky draped with deep crimson curtains,
a marble floor smooth and cold to the touch, the orchestra played its charming melody near the towering fountains
while servants served the oldest white wine and tastiest meals that contained enough food to feed a starving planet.
Rei walked into the room wondering these things until something caught her eye . . . .
"Chad! Chad, what are you doing here?" The sailor of fire couldn't conceal her shock.
"Chad?" He laughed heartily, amused at his wife's antics.
"It's been so long since you called me by my pet name."
"Pet name?" Sometimes the past would confuse her, "But you're name is . . . ."
"Charles, Lord Charles of the Planet Mars, husband of the greatest . . . . dearest . . . fairest
Rei, Lady Mars."
He pulled a chair out for her. "Rest your feet love, you shouldn't be walking with the baby on the way . . ."
Rei sunk into the seat after hearing that one . . . .
"I would be honored if the most beautiful woman walking the Moon would dine with me."
A soft baritone startled Ami, "Greg!"
"The one and only." He swept into a deep bow. "Hearing you say my name is like a thousand silver bells ringing clear and true in my ear."
The sailor of ice decided to let her eyes soak up the scenery-she was noting how strong and tall and handsome he appeared-until her tongue thawed.
"Su-sure!"
Mina couldn't tear her eyes from the dazzling scene:
"I've never seen this place a day in my life and it's so-familiar." They were like dolls in a big dream house-only this dream was real.
"You're telling me!" Lita cried over her shoulder then returning her star-struck glaze to her king. In her opinion, she owned the night.
Lord Kenneth of Venus held out a hand to his wife: "Ready my love?"
"Oh yesssssss-" The couple graced the room . . . .
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Someone stood up and tapped their wine glass signaling attention.
The usual well-to-do aristocracy and royals that gracing the table with their appearances stopped the idle chat and hushed gossip that filled the air.
Her parents were standing there poised for a speech. The king began:
"Welcome home dear ladies, highest lords."
Knights and ladies and members of the highest statues nodded to them with the deepest sincerity.
"We are welcomed." Was the reply that became redundant through the night.
"The Sleep has passed and we all have fared. The Neos have honored the kingdom with their dedication and loyalty to my dearest Serenity,
my little Reni."
Her father always held a air about him that screamed majestic but Serena . . . .
"The Sun beats as the heart, the Earth as the mind, the sky acts as the body, the Universe is the core of it all-the soul. T
hese are the Neos that have protected something worthy more to my than Life-my daughter."
The Queen added.
More cheers followed.
Serena was as regal as any of them, even more, it wasn't the goofy girl that Reni saw grow up. This was the lady she used to emulate, she was her mother.
The Neos stood up then bowed to all then bowed to the couple, but when they bowed to her they held extra wide smiles.
A glimmer of cunning stood in their eyes.
"And now for the real reason we called this dinner is to announce something very special."
Ears pricked up, Reni saw all glazes fall on her.
"We have news for our daughter."
Helios, disguised as a noble of the Royal Court, felt this eerie wind in the air.
Doreira was mouthing the words: "You owe me." She was changing the sky this evening.
"The Lady is to be crowned and married in two weeks!"
The room "awwed" in one breath and shook with applause.
"To our next Queen and to her happy life."
"To Princess Serenity!" The room chanted with raised glasses. "Lady, be praised!"
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The Neos could hear it, sense it, feel it.
They looked at the two-both held quiet rage.
"Don't do it. Not yet" Each girl channeled to their minds.
Defiance burned in both lovers eyes alike-Reni against marriage, Helios against whoever dared to love her.
Burning like a kindled fire, like their love, like their fear of separation.
"No." Reni spoke softy.
"Excuse me?" The queen asked.
"I can't marry another. . . ."
"Serenity, you haven't even-" The king began but she shot up.
"I said no!" The girl threw her glass into the table.
Silence gripped the room. Everyone froze as if Ami had caused it.
"What?" The queen was watching the girl intently over her glass.
"He saved you, he save us when the Dark Moon Circus attacked, He . . . .
He cares about me, me as a person-not some fairy queen! And now you won't even let me be near him!"
Gasp and shock washed over them.
"The Guardian." The king hissed balling his fist.
"I refuse to marry any than the one I love!" Then she screamed loud enough to make Jupiter's thunder jealous: "And I love Helios!"
Before any could move, Reni had disappeared in a furry of skirts.
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The Queen caused Reni to come to a halt.
"You will be crowned and you will be married and that's final!"
"Serena, don't do this-"
"What did you call me?" The Queen demanded but Reni cut her off.
"Daughter, I'm sorry but it will be done."
"This is all because of that damn prophesy isn't it?" The girl stood up.
"Serenity, watch your language young lady-"
"This is my mouth, hell-this is my life, why I can't even choose that?!?"
The queen suddenly cracked the girl's jaw with a slap.
The Neos stood back in the shadows, fearing what wrath would be unleashed upon them.
All of them had knew about and tried to temp Fate it but nothing could be done . . . .
"Sere-Mother please!" She lifted herself from the floor fighting tears.
"Take her to her room and watch her, make sure she does nothing."
Nervously they bowed, "Yes my Queen."
Reni was ready to tangle with the Neos: 'Do what you must but I'll-"
Her hate expelled toward them, her heavy heart closed her in defeat. "Lead on."
Doreira looked into her sky, darkness continued to crept over . . . . "Guardian, you fool."
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The girl fell across her bed, squeezing the pillow to her face-a tear trailed down her cheek and stopped there.
"He'll think that I abandoned him, that I don't need him."
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Her tears drowned her pillows into midnight, she couldn't sleep.
"Lady?" A voice called her, light flittered into the chamber then the room was black.
"Oh . . ." She wiped the tears away hastily. "Where's your candle servant?
It's terribly dark tonight-I can't even see my hand in front of my face."
"Someone asked to speak to you."
"Tell them to go away!" She dropped her head again. Then the voice changed.
"But dear Lady-you'll understand when I say the night veils us. . . . "
Suddenly it was him, his form filled the room, Reni sat up shaking.
"Dearest Lady of my heart." He leaned next to the bed in the shadows, kissing her hand.
"Helios . . . . "
"I told you we'll meet again-not mere words, but a promise."
She sat up staring into his eyes then hugged him greedily, he remembered how cool her skin was,
how beautiful everything was about her. Time stood still for one moment capturing their embrace.
A dark thought crossed the princess mind.
"Oh no." She realized pushing him away gently, "This is stupid, you must go. . . ."
He pressed a finger to her lips softly, whispering. "I can't go on a lonely man."
Those ruby eyes were enchanting her but she pulled from its spell.
"Didn't you tell me you to stay away? Why are you doing this? How did you get in here."
"Your Neos took a gamble when they disguised me at the dinner."
Reni gasped in horror. "They kill them. . . ." Now she understood why they were nervous.
They had been acting as if they were hiding something-or someone. "They kill you!"
But he held her closer, breathing in her ruffed hair, "They don't have to know anything."
"They'll find out, they'll know. They'll take you away." She pleaded. "We can't hide."
"Dark skies hide us but never you from my heart."
"The sky-?"
"Doreira blanketed the sky extra dark tonight. I need you even if for only one night. . . ."
He leaned closer, nothing to separate them . . . . He did what he thought he could never do again.
He gave a kiss-one that was deep and intense.
She took it in . . . .
She was real.
She was his.
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"The Guardian's here."
Serenity suddenly stormed out the door of their massive chambers into the corridors, King Eydimon caught her by the arm before she could go any further.
"Your motherly instincts are boiling over, "Sleep love, Serenity will forgive you in the morning. She needs time to understand why we are doing this-"
"No-" The Queen slipped from gasp, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what-" He followed, they haven't even changed for bed yet when the thought hit her.
She pulled away, "Guards!"
Three strong-armed men bolt up from their slumbers. "Yes Queen Serenity?"
"Follow me. . . ." The four trailed behind.
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The door flew up revealing the royal couple . . . .
"Serenity!" The queen's voice slice through the lulled quiet, light struck their eyes.
"You."
Blue eyes iced with hate fixed on the two lovers . . . . Revealing a very compromising scene.
"Mother, don't!" She tighten her grasp on him, afraid of what would be.
"Queen Serenity please . . ."
The young man begged but suddenly three guards pushed Princess Serenity and lunged toward him, pinning him down on the carpet.
"Careful! She's still my daughter." The queen ordered then fixed her with a deadly stare.
They dragged a struggling Helios to face the queen in her wrath.
"I knew you were here, don't think I didn't see you at my very table either Guardian.
You been a clever one with disguises-especially when it comes to my daughter's own bedroom."
To the guards she spat out the order: "Remove him."
"Please don't take him away!" Serenity ran toward him but was blocked by her mother.
"Stay back, daughter."
"Nothing happened!" The lady struggled with the queen but proved to be weaker.
She pushed her daughter back on the bed,
"He had no business even being on this estate-we made a deal with him to do so.
You even know he couldn't be here-I sent the dream."
The gazed at each other in horror, like it was the last night on earth they'll see each other.
"Helios, you have disobeyed my rule and embarrassed me for the last time."
"Your Highness, please-" A guard punched him in the stomach to bring silence.
Queen Serenity pointed at her daughter as if in judgement:
"You'll be crowned and married tomorrow night!"
"And as for your Guardian." Serenity turned his face up to hers, "You'll be there to watch."
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"Mother, you did that?"
The Dark Child Mystique was glancing in a mirror, watching these events with awe.
"Death does not end my scheming. I've been controlling her thoughts for quite some time.
I like her. But I need a young body and Queen Serenity won't do."
"And the Princess will?" The girl was crying again as the guards dragged the guardian away.
"Ugh! What is this, a soap opera? 'Will you wait for me Helios'-that makes me hurl."
"Helios wants his Lady-so he'll get one."
"You just had Helios thrown into prison and the Lady will be gettin' hitched real soon.
How will you get the girl's body and the guy with body?"
"Patience, foolish girl. Besides I need you pick out your finest dress."
"Dress? What on the moon for?" Charisma asked but knew it would involve her.
"For a wedding." The shade beamed.
The mirrors passed on the dark knowledge . . . .
The looking glasses in the princess's room contain the clouds that contain the Dark Ones.
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