The Ghosts of Tranquility Crater Ch.4
By wingedpixie
Disclaimer: My lawyer has informed me that Sailor Moon does not, and has never belonged to me. He then proceeded to demand $400 for the consultation.
AN: Two chapters in two days! My, I do believe I've shocked meself, but I did think that that last scene needed to be finished. Once again, enjoy! (
Calmly she walked into the room, aiming a small smile at the Lady Venus as if they shared some tantalizing secret. Chocking with shock and fury, Artemis spluttered, "Who-? What-?"
"I'm … a friend," the girl said, and her smile widened into a grin that showed even her back teeth. Around her head a burgundy scarf had been twisted, tucked over and under the many silky black ropes of her hair, which shone with some sort of oil or a lack of washing. Her face was round, though not fleshy, and two tiny eyes squinted at Minako with impolite steadiness.
"I don't have friends," Minako stated coldly, straightening her back out of habit. "At least, not on the kitchen staff." But instead of drawing back, the girl laughed, a high, shrill giggle that hurt the ears. Delving into one of the deep pockets of her red uniform, she continued to stare at the Lady Venus.
"Neither do I," she said amiably, and from the pocket she drew a greasy cube of meat, which she waved at Artemis; he didn't disdain to move. The scullery maid shrugged, popping the scrap into her mouth and chewing loudly.
"What exactly do you want?" Artemis spat. With great concentration she continued to chew, until the cat's tail began to lash from side to side and his mouth widened to loose a hiss. Swallowing, the girl tilted her head onto her shoulder.
"Good kitty," she cooed. "Why don't you go take a stroll outside?"
"Say what you have come for, or take yourself outside," the Lady Venus cut in, her tone like tree branches crackling from frost.
For a second a glimmer of anger flooded the girl's full moon features, but it passed quickly, and with a dramatic sigh she lifted short fingers to the red wrapping in her hair. Steadily the cloth was unwound, twists of hair dropping to shield her face. She wrapped the surprising length of cotton around her arm, almost down to the thumb, and then with a careless flick of the shiny locks, she looked up, a black crescent moon emblazoned on her forehead.
"Not as pretty as yours," the scullery maid murmured, reaching out to tap Minako's forehead, where the hint of a golden moon shimmered. "But I wonder if in these strange times, mine might not be worth more.
She drew back, her worn leather shoes scuffing along the floor. Her touch had left a smear of grease, but the Lady Venus was distracted, caught in a whirl of clashing thoughts, and did not bother to wipe it away. The fire cast uncomfortable shadows, which swayed and fluttered about like windblown leaves as the log burned down.
"At any rate," the intruder said, her hands clasped before her as though she were a schoolchild reciting. "The right honorable and virtuous Prince Diamond, with the full backing of his loyal subjects in his bountiful lands, wishes to graciously extend the hand of friendship to the most revered First Minister of the glorious Moon Kingdom with the hope of establishing a lasting bond of mutual good will."
Toward the end of the little speech the girl had started to rock back and forth on her heels, and the red scarf had slipped down her arm to pool on the wooden floor. With a dismissive wave, surprisingly regal for one accustomed to scrubbing pans, she paused and drew breath.
"Virtuous," Artemis snorted, abruptly fuming when the scullery maid laughed her piercing laugh and nodded in agreement.
"There's more," she said. "Enough words to stuff a pillow, but they're just a jumble of pretty sounds to me, and besides –" Once again she attacked her voluminous pockets, one corner of her lip pinched between her teeth. As she grasped what she desired, her eyes lit up with the dim pleasure of vicarious rewards. "We've more interesting things to discuss," she finished, and Artemis' skin crawled when the girl produced a tiny, rounded box with a silver hinge. There was fever in her gaze that struck him as ominous.
Cautiously Minako plucked the box from the scullery maid's hand, trying to mask her distaste at the brush of their fingers. In her mind she tried to structure a neutral comment, not so harsh as to alienate Diamond, for uneasy as the thought made her she was hesitant to close that door, but enough to get this disturbing creature out of her chambers. As it happened, it wasn't required, for within moments the heavy door burst inward, spilling several mutely dressed royal guards.
"Gone!" gasped one, who had managed to disentangle himself and stumble forward. "Gone!" he repeated, and the Lady Venus recognized the trademark signs of panic: widened eyes and thoughts that looped like a jammed record. From the table Artemis leapt, nimbly landing in the midst of the men and picking a sandy-haired lieutenant that looked relatively calm.
"What happened? And speak clearly," he demanded, jabbing the guard's shin with his paw.
"The Queen," the man managed, as out of breath as any of the others but gradually squeezing out a fragmented report. "Outside the compound … saw her … but didn't think … she ran … so did we to get here but … too late …"
"Gone," the first guard added. "Into Tranquility Crater."
By wingedpixie
Disclaimer: My lawyer has informed me that Sailor Moon does not, and has never belonged to me. He then proceeded to demand $400 for the consultation.
AN: Two chapters in two days! My, I do believe I've shocked meself, but I did think that that last scene needed to be finished. Once again, enjoy! (
Calmly she walked into the room, aiming a small smile at the Lady Venus as if they shared some tantalizing secret. Chocking with shock and fury, Artemis spluttered, "Who-? What-?"
"I'm … a friend," the girl said, and her smile widened into a grin that showed even her back teeth. Around her head a burgundy scarf had been twisted, tucked over and under the many silky black ropes of her hair, which shone with some sort of oil or a lack of washing. Her face was round, though not fleshy, and two tiny eyes squinted at Minako with impolite steadiness.
"I don't have friends," Minako stated coldly, straightening her back out of habit. "At least, not on the kitchen staff." But instead of drawing back, the girl laughed, a high, shrill giggle that hurt the ears. Delving into one of the deep pockets of her red uniform, she continued to stare at the Lady Venus.
"Neither do I," she said amiably, and from the pocket she drew a greasy cube of meat, which she waved at Artemis; he didn't disdain to move. The scullery maid shrugged, popping the scrap into her mouth and chewing loudly.
"What exactly do you want?" Artemis spat. With great concentration she continued to chew, until the cat's tail began to lash from side to side and his mouth widened to loose a hiss. Swallowing, the girl tilted her head onto her shoulder.
"Good kitty," she cooed. "Why don't you go take a stroll outside?"
"Say what you have come for, or take yourself outside," the Lady Venus cut in, her tone like tree branches crackling from frost.
For a second a glimmer of anger flooded the girl's full moon features, but it passed quickly, and with a dramatic sigh she lifted short fingers to the red wrapping in her hair. Steadily the cloth was unwound, twists of hair dropping to shield her face. She wrapped the surprising length of cotton around her arm, almost down to the thumb, and then with a careless flick of the shiny locks, she looked up, a black crescent moon emblazoned on her forehead.
"Not as pretty as yours," the scullery maid murmured, reaching out to tap Minako's forehead, where the hint of a golden moon shimmered. "But I wonder if in these strange times, mine might not be worth more.
She drew back, her worn leather shoes scuffing along the floor. Her touch had left a smear of grease, but the Lady Venus was distracted, caught in a whirl of clashing thoughts, and did not bother to wipe it away. The fire cast uncomfortable shadows, which swayed and fluttered about like windblown leaves as the log burned down.
"At any rate," the intruder said, her hands clasped before her as though she were a schoolchild reciting. "The right honorable and virtuous Prince Diamond, with the full backing of his loyal subjects in his bountiful lands, wishes to graciously extend the hand of friendship to the most revered First Minister of the glorious Moon Kingdom with the hope of establishing a lasting bond of mutual good will."
Toward the end of the little speech the girl had started to rock back and forth on her heels, and the red scarf had slipped down her arm to pool on the wooden floor. With a dismissive wave, surprisingly regal for one accustomed to scrubbing pans, she paused and drew breath.
"Virtuous," Artemis snorted, abruptly fuming when the scullery maid laughed her piercing laugh and nodded in agreement.
"There's more," she said. "Enough words to stuff a pillow, but they're just a jumble of pretty sounds to me, and besides –" Once again she attacked her voluminous pockets, one corner of her lip pinched between her teeth. As she grasped what she desired, her eyes lit up with the dim pleasure of vicarious rewards. "We've more interesting things to discuss," she finished, and Artemis' skin crawled when the girl produced a tiny, rounded box with a silver hinge. There was fever in her gaze that struck him as ominous.
Cautiously Minako plucked the box from the scullery maid's hand, trying to mask her distaste at the brush of their fingers. In her mind she tried to structure a neutral comment, not so harsh as to alienate Diamond, for uneasy as the thought made her she was hesitant to close that door, but enough to get this disturbing creature out of her chambers. As it happened, it wasn't required, for within moments the heavy door burst inward, spilling several mutely dressed royal guards.
"Gone!" gasped one, who had managed to disentangle himself and stumble forward. "Gone!" he repeated, and the Lady Venus recognized the trademark signs of panic: widened eyes and thoughts that looped like a jammed record. From the table Artemis leapt, nimbly landing in the midst of the men and picking a sandy-haired lieutenant that looked relatively calm.
"What happened? And speak clearly," he demanded, jabbing the guard's shin with his paw.
"The Queen," the man managed, as out of breath as any of the others but gradually squeezing out a fragmented report. "Outside the compound … saw her … but didn't think … she ran … so did we to get here but … too late …"
"Gone," the first guard added. "Into Tranquility Crater."