When they reached the throne room Queen Serenity was already
there waiting.
"What in the name of Celene is going on?" she demanded
harshly. More harshly than she had ever sounded.
"We found them trying to scale the wall, your highness. I felt
it necessary to subdue them in such a way," the commander replied with
confidence.
"Did they pose and threat more serious than trespassing that
would require public humiliation on a strange planet, because frankly
Captain, I am appalled by your behavior. I told you they were my
guests, and they are obviously royalty by the way that they hold
themselves up, even during your silly little escapade. I should also
like to point out to you that a senshi, such as the one standing
there, would be able to blast you to kingdom come in a matter of
seconds if they chose to. You are dismissed until I see fit to punish
you."
A red faced Moon captain turned and walked out of the queen's
presence thoroughly reprimanded.
"Well, children, step forward and present yourselves to the
court. We are all eager to meet you," Queen Serenity called to them
gently.
Sailor Earth and Prince Darien approached the throne and bowed
on one knee, showing the proper respect to a woman of her station.
"Sailor Earth, you may return to your natural state, my court
intends you no harm," the queen reassured. Whispers filled the room
when they heard there the strangers were from, none expecting enemies
of their world to be so bold. Sailor Earth did as she was asked as an
act of good faith, praying the senshi of the rest of the system did
not attack her.
Demeter kneeled in Sailor Earth's place seconds later in the
lavender dress of a courtier and a gilded tiara resting on her head.
"See, that's much better. Now you may introduce yourselves."
Darien spoke first. "We are the royal children of Earth. I am
Prince Darien, and this is my sister, Princess Demeter. We have come
to ask your help battling the forces attacking our planet." Darien
looked up, "But I think you already knew that your highness."
"Very perceptive, prince. Now let me introduce myself and my
court. I am Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, an alliance that
includes every planet in our solar system except your own. These are
the princesses and senshi of the inner planets," she indicated Lita,
Rei, and Ami, standing to the side of the platform her throne sat on.
A few people stood behind them, but Darien could not see them. "And
this in my daughter, Princess Serenity, a direct descendant of the
Goddess Celene of the Moon."
A lovely young woman stepped from behind a curtain. Her hair was in
two ponytails with balls of hair at the base of each one, identical to
the queen's. Demeter had yet to look up from her bow, but had been
scanning the feet of everyone in her view. The planet princesses all
wore slippers the same color as their dresses, except the moon
princess. Her shoes were gold, the color of Venus. A pair of shoes
behind the senshi caught her eye, they were exactly the same as the
queen, a beautiful metallic silver, and she had no doubt they had real
silver woven into the material.
As Darien began to bow to the 'princess' Demeter nudged him
with her elbow. He turned his head slightly and saw her shake her head, then
indicate the girl standing behind the senshi with a slight nod in her
direction. Darien took the hint and approached the perplexed ladies in
waiting. He dropped to one knee before Serena and kissed her hand.
"Your highness, it is very nice to make your acquaintance," he
said. Gasps of shock filled the air. Serena looked up at her mother,
wondering if she should try to carry on the charade or fess up.
"Bravo, Prince Darien. How ever did you figure out our
falsehood?" the queen questioned with a broad smile.
Demeter finally stood and spoke for the first time since she
arrived. "Next time you use a decoy they probably should trade shoes."
Both girls looked at their feet and blushed.
Darien looked up at Serena for the first time just when
she blushed and sucked in a breath. She was the most beautiful thing
he had ever seen. They locked eyes and Darien lost track of everything
going on around him.
"Darien!" a sharp voice pulled him out of his stupor.
"Huh," he looked around.
"The queen was speaking to you," Demeter told him.
He looked at her from his position, still on one knee.
"You may stand up now, Prince," she told him with a smile. He
stood slowly and faced her. "And let go of my daughter's hand," she
instructed as if he were a child. He dropped her hand with a deep
blush of his own. "Dinner will be in an hour. Lita and Rei will show
you to your chambers so you can freshen up. Your cat," she pointed to
the so far unnoticed feline sitting next to Luna and Artemis twitching
her tail, "I would like to talk to. You are dismissed."
Everyone bowed one last time before going their own ways. Ami, Mina,
and Serena went through a door to the right of the throne platform,
while the Earth royals followed Rei and Lita down the passage to the
left and the queen went through the curtain behind her throne with the
three cats in tow.
there waiting.
"What in the name of Celene is going on?" she demanded
harshly. More harshly than she had ever sounded.
"We found them trying to scale the wall, your highness. I felt
it necessary to subdue them in such a way," the commander replied with
confidence.
"Did they pose and threat more serious than trespassing that
would require public humiliation on a strange planet, because frankly
Captain, I am appalled by your behavior. I told you they were my
guests, and they are obviously royalty by the way that they hold
themselves up, even during your silly little escapade. I should also
like to point out to you that a senshi, such as the one standing
there, would be able to blast you to kingdom come in a matter of
seconds if they chose to. You are dismissed until I see fit to punish
you."
A red faced Moon captain turned and walked out of the queen's
presence thoroughly reprimanded.
"Well, children, step forward and present yourselves to the
court. We are all eager to meet you," Queen Serenity called to them
gently.
Sailor Earth and Prince Darien approached the throne and bowed
on one knee, showing the proper respect to a woman of her station.
"Sailor Earth, you may return to your natural state, my court
intends you no harm," the queen reassured. Whispers filled the room
when they heard there the strangers were from, none expecting enemies
of their world to be so bold. Sailor Earth did as she was asked as an
act of good faith, praying the senshi of the rest of the system did
not attack her.
Demeter kneeled in Sailor Earth's place seconds later in the
lavender dress of a courtier and a gilded tiara resting on her head.
"See, that's much better. Now you may introduce yourselves."
Darien spoke first. "We are the royal children of Earth. I am
Prince Darien, and this is my sister, Princess Demeter. We have come
to ask your help battling the forces attacking our planet." Darien
looked up, "But I think you already knew that your highness."
"Very perceptive, prince. Now let me introduce myself and my
court. I am Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, an alliance that
includes every planet in our solar system except your own. These are
the princesses and senshi of the inner planets," she indicated Lita,
Rei, and Ami, standing to the side of the platform her throne sat on.
A few people stood behind them, but Darien could not see them. "And
this in my daughter, Princess Serenity, a direct descendant of the
Goddess Celene of the Moon."
A lovely young woman stepped from behind a curtain. Her hair was in
two ponytails with balls of hair at the base of each one, identical to
the queen's. Demeter had yet to look up from her bow, but had been
scanning the feet of everyone in her view. The planet princesses all
wore slippers the same color as their dresses, except the moon
princess. Her shoes were gold, the color of Venus. A pair of shoes
behind the senshi caught her eye, they were exactly the same as the
queen, a beautiful metallic silver, and she had no doubt they had real
silver woven into the material.
As Darien began to bow to the 'princess' Demeter nudged him
with her elbow. He turned his head slightly and saw her shake her head, then
indicate the girl standing behind the senshi with a slight nod in her
direction. Darien took the hint and approached the perplexed ladies in
waiting. He dropped to one knee before Serena and kissed her hand.
"Your highness, it is very nice to make your acquaintance," he
said. Gasps of shock filled the air. Serena looked up at her mother,
wondering if she should try to carry on the charade or fess up.
"Bravo, Prince Darien. How ever did you figure out our
falsehood?" the queen questioned with a broad smile.
Demeter finally stood and spoke for the first time since she
arrived. "Next time you use a decoy they probably should trade shoes."
Both girls looked at their feet and blushed.
Darien looked up at Serena for the first time just when
she blushed and sucked in a breath. She was the most beautiful thing
he had ever seen. They locked eyes and Darien lost track of everything
going on around him.
"Darien!" a sharp voice pulled him out of his stupor.
"Huh," he looked around.
"The queen was speaking to you," Demeter told him.
He looked at her from his position, still on one knee.
"You may stand up now, Prince," she told him with a smile. He
stood slowly and faced her. "And let go of my daughter's hand," she
instructed as if he were a child. He dropped her hand with a deep
blush of his own. "Dinner will be in an hour. Lita and Rei will show
you to your chambers so you can freshen up. Your cat," she pointed to
the so far unnoticed feline sitting next to Luna and Artemis twitching
her tail, "I would like to talk to. You are dismissed."
Everyone bowed one last time before going their own ways. Ami, Mina,
and Serena went through a door to the right of the throne platform,
while the Earth royals followed Rei and Lita down the passage to the
left and the queen went through the curtain behind her throne with the
three cats in tow.