The Ghosts of Tranquility Crater Ch. 3
By wingedpixie
Disclaimer: Yet another unfortunate day of my not owning anything even remotely similar to Sailor Moon.
AN: Once again, thank you for all the notes; they are greatly appreciated. Also, I'm sorry for getting this chapter out so late, but I have had other obligations (mainly a very evil bakery store owner who can't get through a birthday party order of cookies without the entire staff there for moral support). Enjoy!
"Burn it," Artemis demanded, his sharp green eyes glistening from the firelight. He sat on the hearth with one white paw buried in soot, and like a cobra his tail weaved from side to side. A ridge of hair had risen on his back when he'd spotted the distinctive seal of the letter, but now he merely observed the Lady Venus, who slumped in a plush arm chair, rubbing her pale forehead in silence.
Artemis the guardian watched as her eyes squinted shut and her mouth opened slightly, letting out a strained sigh. Not once did his pointed face, empty of emotion in the way of cats, waver.
He could see that the seal was broken.
"You may stop glaring at me, Artemis," Minako said, and yet she did not move except to loosen the red ribbon at her throat. From her hair she plucked a slender stick of amber, then another, until wave after wave of yellow hair fell over her shoulders and the elaborate bun had come undone. Slowly she unclasped her golden bracelet.
Convinced that this was not going to be a speedily resolved affair, he feline slunk over to the Lady Venus' side and anchored the letter to the side table with his paw. Even stretched vertically as he was, Artemis only reached up to Minako's knee, not the best place for negotiation; so he tensed his muscles and sprung atop the little table. It wobbled threateningly.
Minako arched an eyebrow. "On the furniture now, are we?" she quipped.
"Burn. It," he repeated after he had regained his balance. With each word he tapped a sheer claw against the envelope.
"Do you remember the Inaugural Ball, Artemis?" she said, her voice low and thick with some dark emotion.
"I suppose you're referring to Diamond's attendance? Oh, I admit he's a pretty enough thing to look at, but do you really want to form a political alliance with a Christmas tree ornament?"
"I was referring to our sovereign queen," Minako snapped. She jerked forward suddenly until her nose was level with his. The delicate whiskers twitched, but his emerald gaze never wavered.
"Damn it Artemis. What am I supposed to do? She sat there on the throne, not moving, like some lifeless porcelain doll until Princess Kakyuu came forward to pay her respects. And then, after ignoring every monarch, every representative that had bowed to her that night, Serenity leapt up and flung herself at the princess' guard. 'Mamoru,' she called him. My God, Artemis; Rei practically had to restrain her!
"For months the rumors flew from mouth to mouth; our friends, our allies all whispering of a ruler gone mad. Into the courts of our most loyal supporters I walked, having to ask, plead for the tribute which is ours by right. Behind their eyes, rebellion flickers, along with a newly kindled pride.
"And even among our own, our councilors, our cabinetmen, ambition is uncoiling 'til I practically trip on its grasping tendrils each time I pass their chambers."
"She has been overburdened," Artemis whispered, swallowing his surprise at the Lady Venus' passionate outpouring. "Her emotions are strained."
"Do you think they care about emotions?!" she cried. "Them?!" And she clawed at her elegant sleeve until the pale flesh of her wrist was exposed to the light. Running from the pad of her thumb to her elbow, a thin, slightly purple line could be seen. Artemis flinched at the ghastly souvenir from the War of Comets.
"They attack at the slightest sign of vulnerability. Our doctors discovered this when they tried to reach the wounded, unescorted." Her composure returned to her slowly, yet still her voice trembled, out of anger or sorrow Artemis couldn't tell.
"And him …" Fixed on a darkened corner, Minako's eyes fluttered shut before the moisture in them could slip out.
For a moment all was silent and still. Then the Lady Venus moved her hand toward the side table, and the Guardian shrank back, his ears clapped to his skull.
"I will not be touched by a traitor," he hissed. Quietly Minako regarded him, her hand still suspended in the air.
"I have already been a murderer, a liar, a thief, all for my queen," she said softly. "Perhaps it is time to be a turncoat for my country." She placed her hand in her lap.
"I am rejoiced to hear such words," the red-clad scullery maid said, stepping through the doorway.
By wingedpixie
Disclaimer: Yet another unfortunate day of my not owning anything even remotely similar to Sailor Moon.
AN: Once again, thank you for all the notes; they are greatly appreciated. Also, I'm sorry for getting this chapter out so late, but I have had other obligations (mainly a very evil bakery store owner who can't get through a birthday party order of cookies without the entire staff there for moral support). Enjoy!
"Burn it," Artemis demanded, his sharp green eyes glistening from the firelight. He sat on the hearth with one white paw buried in soot, and like a cobra his tail weaved from side to side. A ridge of hair had risen on his back when he'd spotted the distinctive seal of the letter, but now he merely observed the Lady Venus, who slumped in a plush arm chair, rubbing her pale forehead in silence.
Artemis the guardian watched as her eyes squinted shut and her mouth opened slightly, letting out a strained sigh. Not once did his pointed face, empty of emotion in the way of cats, waver.
He could see that the seal was broken.
"You may stop glaring at me, Artemis," Minako said, and yet she did not move except to loosen the red ribbon at her throat. From her hair she plucked a slender stick of amber, then another, until wave after wave of yellow hair fell over her shoulders and the elaborate bun had come undone. Slowly she unclasped her golden bracelet.
Convinced that this was not going to be a speedily resolved affair, he feline slunk over to the Lady Venus' side and anchored the letter to the side table with his paw. Even stretched vertically as he was, Artemis only reached up to Minako's knee, not the best place for negotiation; so he tensed his muscles and sprung atop the little table. It wobbled threateningly.
Minako arched an eyebrow. "On the furniture now, are we?" she quipped.
"Burn. It," he repeated after he had regained his balance. With each word he tapped a sheer claw against the envelope.
"Do you remember the Inaugural Ball, Artemis?" she said, her voice low and thick with some dark emotion.
"I suppose you're referring to Diamond's attendance? Oh, I admit he's a pretty enough thing to look at, but do you really want to form a political alliance with a Christmas tree ornament?"
"I was referring to our sovereign queen," Minako snapped. She jerked forward suddenly until her nose was level with his. The delicate whiskers twitched, but his emerald gaze never wavered.
"Damn it Artemis. What am I supposed to do? She sat there on the throne, not moving, like some lifeless porcelain doll until Princess Kakyuu came forward to pay her respects. And then, after ignoring every monarch, every representative that had bowed to her that night, Serenity leapt up and flung herself at the princess' guard. 'Mamoru,' she called him. My God, Artemis; Rei practically had to restrain her!
"For months the rumors flew from mouth to mouth; our friends, our allies all whispering of a ruler gone mad. Into the courts of our most loyal supporters I walked, having to ask, plead for the tribute which is ours by right. Behind their eyes, rebellion flickers, along with a newly kindled pride.
"And even among our own, our councilors, our cabinetmen, ambition is uncoiling 'til I practically trip on its grasping tendrils each time I pass their chambers."
"She has been overburdened," Artemis whispered, swallowing his surprise at the Lady Venus' passionate outpouring. "Her emotions are strained."
"Do you think they care about emotions?!" she cried. "Them?!" And she clawed at her elegant sleeve until the pale flesh of her wrist was exposed to the light. Running from the pad of her thumb to her elbow, a thin, slightly purple line could be seen. Artemis flinched at the ghastly souvenir from the War of Comets.
"They attack at the slightest sign of vulnerability. Our doctors discovered this when they tried to reach the wounded, unescorted." Her composure returned to her slowly, yet still her voice trembled, out of anger or sorrow Artemis couldn't tell.
"And him …" Fixed on a darkened corner, Minako's eyes fluttered shut before the moisture in them could slip out.
For a moment all was silent and still. Then the Lady Venus moved her hand toward the side table, and the Guardian shrank back, his ears clapped to his skull.
"I will not be touched by a traitor," he hissed. Quietly Minako regarded him, her hand still suspended in the air.
"I have already been a murderer, a liar, a thief, all for my queen," she said softly. "Perhaps it is time to be a turncoat for my country." She placed her hand in her lap.
"I am rejoiced to hear such words," the red-clad scullery maid said, stepping through the doorway.