Chapter Eleven
Crystal
Tokyo
"But
Rini," Rachel said while grabbing the Princess' arm, "Aren't you afraid, you'll
get in trouble?"
Rini
shook her head. "No Rachel. No guy in his right mind would tattle saying he got
his ass kicked by a girl."
"You're
right," a voice said. Rini turned and saw Amiko. The girl was a year older and
was Ejiro's sister. She had dark black hair, in curls to her waist. Her bright
green eyes stood out against her pale skin but she was a major jerk. Especially
to Rini.
"I
told for him. See, now I can say I saw it and my little brother's pride isn't
hurt."
Rini
was about to retort when the principal of the school came out,
"Serenity
Tsukino."
Rini
winced but walked back and stood before him. He was an older man, with a
baldhead. He had a potbelly and wore blue suits everyday. But he was strict and
never really believed that princesses deserved fair treatment.
"Young
lady, I have heard of this fight. The boy's nose was broken. Give this note to
your parents. And you are suspended for a week."
Rini
exploded, "A week? Fights only call for three day suspension!"
"But
you are a Princess. Princesses are sheltered and need to learn respect for the
real world."
Rini
was about to tell him what she thought of his theory as well as where he could
shove it but Rachel grabbed her arms and said,
"Don't
Rini. The King and Queen will be angry enough."
Rini
growled but backed off and walked towards the palace.
"There
goes my allowance this week."
*
* *
"Rini?
Why the long face?" Hotaru asked Rini as she came home. Although there was a
major age difference in this time, the two still thought of one another as best
friends. Rini looked up, her red eyes shining with tears. Hotaru pulled her to
the main hall of palace and sat her down.
"Rini?
What's the matter?"
"I…Annika's
disappearance got to me Hotaru. It made me mad, tense, and jumpy. Then, I.."
"Rini,"
Hotaru knelt in front of her friend and Princess. "What happened?"
The
pink haired girl told her. Hotaru sighed. "The King and Queen won't be happy,
Rini."
The
girl sighed also. "I know Hotaru. Where are Mom and Dad?"
"The
kitchen. I think you best tell them."
Rini
met eyes with her friend, "Come with me?"
Hotaru
shook her head, "I can't. I have to help Madelyn with her homework."
Rini
nodded and taking a deep breath walked into the kitchen.
*
* *
"Hello,
Darling." The queen greeted her daughter brightly. She had to keep her spirits
up. She thought that Rini could help them when she got done with her homework.
That would make her happy.
But
Rini's face was long and miserable. She flopped down at the table, depressed.
The queen set a cake slice in front of her but she only picked at it.
"Rini?"
it was her father. "What's wrong?"
The
princess looked up and saw both her parents concerned. She dug into her
backpack and handed her mother the note. She hid her face when her mother's
anger rose up.
"Serenity!"
Rini dared to look up and saw her mother glaring at her and her father reading
the note.
"I'm
sorry, Momma."
The
queen took a breath and stated, "Rini, you're supposed to set an example for
the other kids. Getting into fights is not a good example. Daisy, Faith, and
Gloria get into fights. You never have."
"I
know, Mom. But…when Annika vanished that was one thing, then Gloria and now
this…ow,"
The
queen sat down by her daughter. "Rini, what did this Ejiro say that got you
angry enough to break his nose?"
Slowly
Rini told her what had happened.
The
King sighed, "Rini, I know you love your mother but you can't just snap like
that, you know."
The
girl sighed, "I know Dad."
The
two royals looked at each other. "Rini, will be taking away your TV for a week,
understood?"
The
girl nodded. She was glad she wasn't Daisy's age. If she were, it would have
been a spanking.
"Momma?
I'm suspended for a week. Can I at least help look for Annika and Gloria?
Please?"
The
king started to say no but the Neo-Queen Serenity smiled, "Of course, Darling."
She
turned to her husband, "We need any help we can get."
He
nodded and Rini leaned against her mother, saying,
"Annika,
Gloria, where are you?"
Magellan
Castle, Venus
"It's
true, My Queen," may stated as she finished scanning Gloria. "She is your
granddaughter, daughter of Princess Mina."
The
queen felt the tears sting her eyes. She had lost her daughter and now she had
her granddaughter. She turned to May.
"Prepare
one of the finest suites for my grandchild. Make sure she has everything she
needs." She turned to Gloria. "You're tired, my child. Go and get a warm bath.
May will help you. Then perhaps we can talk."
Gloria's
first thought was to protest but she did hurt, she was tired. And her body
ached.
She
rose from the ground and followed the servant upstairs. May lead her into an
exquisite room, rich with silk, and fancy furniture, golden lampposts, a canopy
bed with topaz stones and gold posts. Spun gold made up the covering and
sheets.
May
led her into an adjourning bathroom. The tub was filled with bubbles to the
brim. May pointed out the towels and a gown she could don before she left her
alone.
Gloria
undressed and collapsed into the warm water. As worried and scared as she felt,
the waters helped. It made the pain in her joints and body vanish. It eased her
mind.
Gloria
finally got out and put on the gown laid out for her. Gloria guessed it had
been her mother's when she had been her age and living as the Princess of
Venus. It was a golden orange gown that fell to the ground. It had translucent
spaghetti straps.
Gloria
walked back out into her room and saw Queen Alina sitting on the bed. For the
first time, Gloria took note of the queen's features. It reminded her of
Tiffany.
She
had long brilliant red hair that fell in waves to her waist. Her eyes were deep
blue and had dark black eyelashes. Her complexion was crystal clear and her
lips a blood red. She had on her own nightgown, a dress of a dark orange that
fell to the ground. Her outfit had no sleeves. She motioned for her
granddaughter to sit by her. Gloria nodded and sat down by her grandmother.
"Why
are you here, little one?"
"I…my
best friend Annika, daughter of the Princess of Mars, was taken by the enemy.
She told me the answers laid on Venus. They won't hurt Annika until they have
me. But…I have to save her. I don't know what they'll do to her. But, not even
Cosmic Moon was a match for Lady Phobia. I'm just a Chibi Scout. I don't have
enough power."
She
laid her head down in the Queen's lap and Alina started to slip her fingers
through the girl's orange hair.
"Not
true, little one. The force of this planet flows through your body, the powers
of Venus is in your veins. You just need to draw it out."
"How
can I do that, Grandma?"
"I'll
help you little one. You can't give up."
"I
know, but…Annika…"
"There's
a way to find her as well, child. The computers on Mars have a tracer for those
with the Mars aura. And Queen Renia will be more than happy to find her
granddaughter."
Gloria
nodded. "I'm gonna save her, I swear that on my scout honor."
Alina nodded. "I know you will, little one, I know you will."
