Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

            Gloria sat up, her head was aching. She glanced around and found herself in a kingdom of what, to her, seemed to be gold. The houses were a shimmering yellow and orange color but at the heart of them was a palace, smaller than the Crystal Palace but big nonetheless.

            Before long people had gathered around Gloria. She looked at them, nervous. They didn't know her here.

            It was a girl with a long orange dress and her red hair done up in a bun that approached. She looked maybe sixteen.

            "Who are you little one?"

            "I…I need to see the queen."

            The girl nodded and took Gloria's hand. Together, they walked towards the palace gates, past the guards and into the throne room.

* * *

            "My Queen?"

            Queen Alina of Venus rose and gestured for her servant Maya to do the same. She was over two thousand years old but still looked as if she were in her twenties because as a queen of a planet she had eternal life and eternal youth. Just as her daughter Princess Mina had eternal life and eternal youth as a princess of a planet and as a Sailor Soldier.

            But her daughter had long since been lost. She had been on the Moon Kingdom when Metallica attacked and had died. Queen Serenity had reincarnated all the senshi but it was now the thirtieth century on earth and Queen Alina had no way of knowing what had become of her daughter.

            "Yes, Maya?"

            "My Queen, there is a young girl who has arrived on Venus. Your servant, May is escorting her to the Magellan Castle."

            The young girl, her blond hair tied back in a braid took a breath, "She wishes a council with you, My Queen."

            The queen nodded, her thoughts on her own daughter. "How old is she?"

            "She has not told us, Your Majesty. We estimate her to be between eight and ten."

            The Queen nodded.

            "Bring her to me, but then leave us alone."

            Maya nodded and left.

            Queen Alina sat back and tried to decide on what this child would be like. Unfortunately, unlike Mercury and Jupiter, Venus was not blessed with children. There were few families that had children. Her kingdom had loved it when she ahd given birth to princess Mina so many years ago.

            Suddenly the door opened and May walked in with a small child.

            She was clearly around nine years of age, with long orange hair and deep blue eyes. She wore a green shirt with black slacks. Her hair had a large green bow in the center of her head. Her eyes struck a nerve with Alina. They looked so much like Mina's.

            Gloria bowed, as she knew that even though Queen Alina was her grandmother, she didn't know it yet. She had to be nice if she wanted some help, which she was sure, was here.

            "Rise, little one."

            "Gloria," she said as she stood, "My name's Gloria."

            She spoke again. "I came for help, Queen Alina."

            Alina was taken aback. "How do you know my name, Gloria?"

            "I…I…well, I know your daughter, Princess Mina.."

            "My baby?!" the queen leapt up immediately. "How do you know my child?"

            Gloria smiled. "Because she's my mother."

            The queen stumbled. "Then, you…"

            "Yes," Gloria replied, "I am a Princess and Scout of Venus. Once grown, I'll be Sailor Cosmic Venus."

            The queen knelt to Gloria's level.

            "Then, you're…."

            "Yes, I'm your granddaughter."

* * *

Crystal Tokyo

            "She must have gone after Annika," Rini reasoned with her mother.

            The queen nodded.

            "Amy?"

            The Scout of Mercury sighed, "No, she erased her aura from my computer and Ariel's so we can't follow."

            Mina leapt up. "We can't just leave her and Annika unfound!"

            Lita grabbed Mina's shoulders, "Mina, calm down! We'll find them."

            Rini spoke up, "I could help."

            Mina shook her head, "No, your parents and Amy discussed it. You and the girls still need to go to school. If a scout disappears and you stop going, people will put two and two together and find out your identity. Raye already said that Annika was sick to cover."

            Rini turned to her parents, "But I want to help!"

            The queen nodded. "I know you do Darling. You and the girls will help us when you're off but Mina's right. We can't risk your identities being found out."

            Rini sighed, deeply.

            But she turned and grabbing her things, left with her father for school.

            The day went normal for her until lunch. She was worried.

            "Hey, Palace Brat!"

            Rini growled but turned.

            "What do you want Ejiro?"

            "I heard that one of your palace brat little sisters is sick. I bet she made herself sick. Because that's the crybaby princess."

            "Ejiro?"

            "Yes?"

            "Shut the hell up."

            "Ooo, is the little Princess getting tense? Want to call the queen on me?"

            Rini looked him square in the face. "What part of 'Shut Up' don't you get?"

            "If you're so tough, princess, hit me. Make me shut up."

            Rini so wanted to. But she couldn't. Her parents would jump all over her, as would the rest of the scouts. She was the Crown Princess and the eldest of the new generation of scouts. She had to set the example. She took a breath and started to walk off.

            "That's it, run away, Princess. I'll bet you couldn't fight me if you tried. I wouldn't be surprised if your mommy shelters you so much you can't even dress on you own. Stupid."

            Rini whirled around, "What?"

            "That's stupid, all you Palace Twerps are stupid. And your mother…"

            "Don't say it Ejiro." It was said in a dangerous voice. "Shut up!"

            "As I was saying, your mother doesn't know how to rule."

            That was Rini's breaking point. She adored her mother. And her mother was a good ruler. Everyone told Rini that. And now her mother had to find two missing girls, plus rule a whole kingdom, plus raise her. That struck a nerve and Rini's temper control burst.

            Rini swung her fist with all the strength she had.

            Ejiro's nose broke on contact.