Chapter Fourteen
Gloria awoke early the next morning. She was a Super Chibi Scout now. The forces of Venus had been awoken from within her blood, where they had slept for the past nine years. Now she was more than ready, she had to find Annika. Kami-sama was the only one who knew what was happening to her. If Queen Renia could find her she could look for her. Gloria knew her grandmother could not come. As a queen, she had a kingdom to rule.
Besides, this was Gloria's mission. While she had no reason to feel guilty for Annika's kidnapping, she did.
Gloria dressed and rushed downstairs. Her grandmother was ready with a transporter.
"You must go alone my tiny one. I know the forces of this planet are with you. If you do not return by nightfall, I'll assume you have gone after your friend. Go with care, child. This enemy sounds strong."
Gloria nodded and hugged her grandmother around the waist.
Queen Alina fought the tears in her eyes. She felt like she saying goodbye forever. She kissed Gloria's forehead.
For the first time, Gloria did not reject affection. She smiled as she stepped into the portal that would transport her to the planet of Mars.
"Don't worry Grandmother," she soothed, "I'll see you again. Next time I'll bring Mother."
The queen of Venus nodded, tears in her eyes.
Gloria stepped into the portal and vanished from sight.
Queen Alina, feeling as if she had lost her daughter again, collapsed to her knees and wept.
* * *
Gloria stepped out into a huge room with vaulted ceilings. Queen Alina's palace had been made of gold and topaz. This place was made of a red material and rubies. Gloria glanced about before a servant who answered to June came forward and guided her to a throne.
As Gloria was led, she thought to Raye and the Mars Family. She remembered her mother commenting once how Annika had wound up with violet tresses. It was a mystery to everyone. Chad had brown hair and Raye had black. Now as Gloria looked over the Queen of Mars she solved it.
Gloria knelt, oddly not feeling agitated as she usually felt when she had to submit to authority.
"Queen Renia."
The queen smiled,
"Rise, little one."
Gloria stood and looked the queen over.
She stood tall; with a red dress that had no sleeves but had the symbol of Mars in-between her breasts. She had dark violet eyes and long lavender hair. She wore a crown of rubies atop her head.
"Welcome to the Phobos Demios Castle, Neo-Princess Ali."
It was the first time someone had called Gloria by her formal title. It felt odd but Gloria was determined to be polite and nice. She needed help to find Annika.
"Thank you, your Highness. I came-"
"You came to seek help, Queen Alina told me. But she did not say what you needed my assistance for."
June spoke, acidly. "Our Queen has a kingdom to rule and she has no heir. She does not have time for trivial matters."
Gloria glared at June and then turned back to Queen Renia.
"But you do have an heir! Your daughter, Princess Raye lives!"
Renia stopped to take in a breath. She saw the sincerity in the girl's bright blue eyes.
"Princess Raye perished on the Moon Kingdom." June insisted.
Renia interrupted her servant, "But my bets friend, Queen Serenity assured me she would live."
Gloria nodded. "She, along with the other senshi and the Moon princess were reborn and now Princess Serenity rules Earth as Neo-Queen Serenity and your daughter is in grieving."
Gloria took a breath, "I came to ask for help for her and the other senshi as well as myself."
She saw the queen's eyes well up with tears; Renia was so much like Annika. She now knew where Annika got her sensitivity.
"There is nothing you can ask of me that I would not give."
Gloria smiled. "Your granddaughter, Neo-Princess Scarlet, the daughter of Raye, has been captured by the enemy. I understand you can detect and trace the Mars aura. I ask you to do that alone so that I may save my best friend."
The queen rose immediately. "Of course. But to think I have a granddaughter…and I never knew it."
"Neither did Queen Alina," Gloria soothed. "And I doubt that Queen Minda of Mercury or Queen Juno of Jupiter know either."
The queen led Gloria over to a small control panel and asked,
"What is my grandchild's age?"
"Eight."
"Hair color?"
"Purple."
"Eye shade?"
"Purple."
The queen typed something in and a locket was produced, with the mark of Mars atop it. She handed it to Gloria.
"As much as I wish I could come, my kingdom needs me. This locket will pinpoint my granddaughter's location."
"I'll save her."
Renia nodded, her tears barely contained. Her daughter was alive and she had a granddaughter. She wanted to cry but now was neither the place nor the time. She noted that as soon as the daughter of Princess Mina had the locket she lifted a time key and with a call of thanks vanished.
The queen cried and then said a silent prayer,
"Give my daughter her little girl back."
* * *
Gloria studied the locket as she began to direct her journey.
"Watch out Egypt. Here comes Gloria."
