Palace Life
Life on the moon proved to be quite agreeable.
Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna were fast friends. Queen Serenity was good
and kind, and everything was so wonderful that any trace of homesickness
the three girls might have had on their first day in the Silver Palace
was soon forgotten. Setsuna's days fell into a pleasant routine. Every
morning, when the grandfather clock chimed, Setsuna arose from her soft
bed, and dressed in her elaborate crimson garments before she and her two
friends were escorted to the dining hall, where they breakfasted with their
mothers and Queen Serenity. Breakfast was followed by the
"conventional schooling" Luna had mentioned, by far Setsuna's least favorite
class. The three girls tolerated it in gracious silence, however, because
before long, they escaped to an invigorating lesson in combat.
"A Sailor Soldier can not always rely on her
powers. She is not a real threat to her enemy if she is weak in her body."
Haruka's mother, Lady Eriu, explained when the use of the class was questioned.
Because combat drills always left them tired and dirty, the girls were
given an hour or so afterward to bathe and re-dress so they were again
presentable when they joined Serenity and their mothers for lunch. After
their meal the princess separated, going off with their mothers to their
most important class, which all three called their favorite: the class
which taught the girls about the nature of their planetary powers and how
to use them.
Of course, they could not learn to call upon
their magic just yet. As the Queens hastened to remind their girls, possessing
such power came with a great responsibility, not to be taken lightly. Before
they could begin to use their powers, they had to learn the laws that governed
the elements they drew their powers from. For Setsuna, that meant
learning the Rules of the Dead.
Even though she was not yet able to use her
incredible powers, Setsuna still enjoyed the class she took with her mother.
She had always feared death, thinking it to be the very heart of darkness.
But Lady Moira knew otherwise, and passed every crumb of knowledge she
possessed to her eager child.
Death, Setsuna learned, was not the enemy.
It was only a part of the life cycle, and as natural as birth. Death was
only a process that freed the soul from the body. And in all reality,
what was the body but a vessel for the soul, which was the true essence
of any mortal being?
On the other hand, life was precious. The
world of men was a marvelous place. It was so wonderful that the goddess
of Saturn had wished never to leave it, and had even sworn eternal chastity
in order to remain here. Every moment of a mortal's life was a treasure
in itself. To kill another in cold blood, to end a fellow creature's precious
life before the gods willed it, was the most serious crime you could commit.
Setsuna took these rules to heart, for as
her mother often reminded her, before she could become a Sailor Soldier,
she must become one with the spirit of her planet.
Because their private classes with the three
Queens were the last they had before dinner, Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru
spoke of little else during their few precious free hours before bed. The
Queens encouraged their girls to talk of what they had learned during that
last lesson. After all, they would fight as a team one day, and the greater
their knowledge of one another's abilities, the stronger their alliance
would be. So, the three friends lavished each other with details of what
they had been taught that day, and then fell asleep in their soft beds,
with visions of Sailor Soldiers dancing in their heads. There they remained
until the chime of the grandfather clock began the routine again.
One night, about two weeks after they had
arrived on the moon, Setsuna was awakened several hours before the clock
would ring her wake-up song. At first, she thought little of it. It was
not unusual for her to wake for brief periods during the night. But then
she noticed Michiru, a notably sound sleeper, sitting straight up in bed,
thoughtfully twirling a tangled aqua curl around her forefinger. Setsuna
suddenly realized that something was different here. Somehow, this picture
was different from the usual nighttime scene she had become accustomed
to.
"Michiru?" Setsuna whispered, pushing herself
off the pillow. "Do you…hear something?" Michiru nodded in response, a
gesture Setsuna could just barely make out in the darkness.
"It sounds like someone is moving around nearby."
She said at last. Setsuna had to agree. The sounds of movement were extremely
close by. In fact, a few of them seemed to be right outside their
door. The next moment saw Haruka rubbing her eyes as she slowly sat up.
"What is going on?" she asked sleepily.
"There is something happening!" Setsuna whispered
excitedly. "Let's go find out what it is!" Fully awake now, Haruka was
quick to agree, and the trio of girls slipped from their beds. They always
left the door open just a crack when they went to bed, and a narrow wedge
of golden light was stretched across the floor—another abnormality, Setsuna
noted, because the servants always put out the lights in the halls before
they went to sleep. Cautiously, they opened the door, and three tousled
heads poked into the hallway. Upon determining that the coast was clear,
they carefully tiptoed from their chamber.
All at once, Luna, a blue—or rather, black—streak,
barreled across their path in a feverish hurry. Forgetting all about caution,
the three girls shrieked in surprise and stumbled backward, tripping over
one another and landing in a tangled heap in the doorway. Haruka decided
that was the best moment to inform her friends that she'd heard a black
cat crossing one's path was bad luck.
"Luna!" Setsuna called to the cat, ignoring
the Uranian girl's comment. "What is going on?"
"No time to explain, Highnesses!" The Queen's
advisor threw her reply over her shoulder. A moment later, Artemis scampered
past, and Setsuna repeated her question. This time, though, it was answered.
"The Queen has begun her labors!" he told
the nightgown-clad trio breathlessly. "Her heir is about to be born!" The
girls exchanged excited whispers as Artemis took off in the direction of
the High Queen's chamber. Serenity's child was on they way! The Queen of
Neptune, Lady Nuala, swept past the girls, looking uncharacteristically
harried.
"Go back to bed, girls!" she ordered without
stopping.
"But Mother!" Michiru protested, but was quickly
silenced by a sharp look from Neptune's Queen.
"We will tell you everything when it is over."
Lady Moira promised as she and Lady Eriu joined Lady Nuala. With that,
the three Queens disappeared down the long corridor. The princesses sighed
in disappointment and retreated to their chamber. But though they obediently
took to their beds, not even lighting the lamps for a moment, sleep could
not find them. How in Selene's name could they sleep when their High Queen
was giving birth only a few rooms away? That child would sit on the throne
of the White Moon, reigning over the kingdom when the three girls brought
their own firstborn daughters to the Silver Palace to be trained as Sailor
Soldiers. It was all so exciting—and admittedly, a little scary. The girls
lay awake for hours, whispering amongst themselves. Finally, in the small
hours of the morning, when the sun's rays were just beginning to fall upon
the Silver Palace, Lady Eriu poked her head into the girls' chamber. Naturally,
they pretended just to be waking up, and naturally, Lady Eriu pretended
she was fooled.
"It is a girl." Eriu told them. "Your princess,
Serenity, sixth descendant of the goddess Selene." Setsuna felt as
if she could burst with joy. Grinning happily, Haruka hugged her mother,
and Michiru murmured a gentle prayer, thanking the gods for the blessing
they had bestowed upon the kingdom.
"And how does Her Majesty fare?" Setsuna inquired
politely.
"She is well." Eriu replied. "Selene saw her
safely through the birth." Setsuna and Haruka smiled widely. Michiru voiced
another prayer of gratitude to the gods. With the suspense passed, the
girls began to feel tired again, and snuggled into their beds to capture
another few hours of sleep before the clock sounded.
As sleep slowly settled around her, Setsuna's
thoughts of the Queen and her newborn princess shifted. Lying in Slumber's
open palm, Setsuna surrendered her mind to the memories of the day she
had arrived on the moon. The day was a vivid picture within her head, especially
the moment when Lady Moira had extended her condolences to Queen Serenity
in her loss. Serenity had spoken of her unborn child then, lamenting over
its fatherless state. How sad it was that the King had not been able to
be there when his love had brought forth their daughter. Setsuna rolled
over in her bed. Slumber's hand was soft and warm. Slowly, he began to
curl his fingers, preparing to claim the girl completely. Setsuna's thoughts
turned to her lessons with her mother, and all that she had learned thus
far. The King's body was empty now. His soul, though, was free…free…free?
A question formed in Setsuna's mind as Slumber's fingers closed around
her…
As was only natural, the arrival of the Princess
Serenity brought about a pleasant change in the atmosphere of the Silver
Palace. Luna was exceedingly proud of her new position as the girl's nurse,
and kept everyone sufficiently entertained with her mild boasting. Serenity
spent much of her time in the nursery with her child, rocking her and singing
lullabies in her soft soprano voice. When she emerged from the nursery,
she positively glowed with happiness, and sighed so contentedly so often
that the servant women were merry in their work, and even the sour-faced
cook cracked a smile when he greeted another resident of the Silver Palace.
Most of the time, it was only Serenity in
the nursery with the princess. Perhaps Luna or Artemis would be with her,
but in general, the others at the palace left her alone out of respect
for a new mother. In the evening, however, that changed. After supper was
over, Setsuna, Michiru, and Haruka were permitted to spend their free hours
in the nursery with the Queen and princess.
Although she was always humble and respectful
in her Queen's presence, Setsuna had quickly begun to look upon Serenity
as a member of her own family. It seemed Haruka and Michiru had as well,
because when they went to the nursery after dinner in the evening, they
sat at the Queen's feet, telling her what they had learned that day as
they took turns trying to coax a smile or a laugh from Princess Serenity.
One evening, Setsuna finally worked up the resolve to ask the question
that had formed in her mind the night Little Serenity—as the princess was
affectionately called—was born.
"Your Majesty," Setsuna began, stroking Little
Serenity's doll-sized hand with her forefinger. "My mother told me that
when a person dies, their soul is free, and lives on forever. Is that right?"
"That is what I have been told, yes." The
Queen replied. "Of course, your lady mother would know better than I would."
Little Serenity took hold of Setsuna's finger, and attempted to take it
in her warm, wet little mouth. Smiling, Setsuna helped her. She was not
one to get worked up over a little bit of baby drool on her finger.
"Love is a powerful thing, Your Majesty, is
it not?"
"It is, Setsuna." Serenity agreed. "It is
the most powerful force in the mortal world."
"Even more powerful than you?" Setsuna asked
in surprise, momentarily forgetting the rest of her question. Serenity
laughed.
"Not in terms of magic, my dear," she explained,
"but it is a law in the natural world. No mortal being can control
it. It rules all things, and governs each creature in its own particular
fashion. Perhaps love cannot directly defend or destroy, or perform amazing
feats in the manner that our magic can, but it is still the ruler of us
all. Did you not know that it is love which binds you each to your home
world and allows you to use its power?" At this, all three girls shook
their heads.
"I thought it was heretical." Haruka replied.
Serenity laughed again.
"I believe the word you're looking for is
hereditary." She corrected mildly. "Or did you mean genetic?" It was Setsuna's
own opinion that Haruka did not know which word had been her original intention.
"Genetics do play a role in your ability to
draw power from your planets," the Queen continued, "but it was the goddesses'
love—for Selene, for the kingdom, for their husbands, and for their daughters—which
allowed their gifts to be passed to their children. Whether or not you
know it, it is your love for the goddesses who spawned your bloodlines
that allows your powers to survive."
"But is Sailor Venus not the Soldier of Love?"
Michiru asked. "Can she not control love?"
"Good gracious, no!" Serenity exclaimed. "If
Sailor Venus could control love, I believe no one would ever get their
hearts broken!" Setsuna was quickly growing impatient of the Queen's explanation.
She had a very important question to ask.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that lovers share
a connection in their souls. Is that true?" she asked.
"It is." The Queen replied.
"And when one dies, that person's soul is
free, correct?"
"Yes…" Serenity agreed slowly, curious as
to where the girl was going.
"I am wondering, Your Majesty," Setsuna began,
"if you ever feel as if the King's soul is near to you?" For a long moment,
Serenity was silent, and Setsuna feared her question had upset her. After
a moment, however, a misty smile played around her mouth.
"Yes, Princess Setsuna." She replied. "When
my child was born, I felt my love's soul nearby, and he told me what a
beautiful life we had made together." The silver-haired Queen sighed in
contentment, and pressed Little Serenity to her bosom. The three girls
watched her quietly, thinking of all that they found confusing, which they
hoped someday to understand. Soon after, Lady Moira appeared, and told
the girls it was high time they were in bed. The princesses scampered off
to their chambers, leaving Serenity alone with her child, and her thoughts.
When her last lesson was drawing to a close
the next evening, Setsuna told her mother what the Queen had said.
"Can a soul really speak to its lover after
death?" she asked. Lady Moira smiled mysteriously. Graceful as a ghost,
the Queen of Pluto slid up to her daughter's seat, bent down, and touched
her lips to the girl's forehead.
"That, my little Sailor Soldier," Moira murmured,
"is a lesson for another day."