Chapter Five
The Heartache of a Lonely Girl
Three days after the arrival and introduction of Princess Universe…
Over the next couple of days Universe found herself wondering if all of this had been such a good idea.
After the night of her arrival the newest Princess had immediately been struck by just how different a Princess's way of life was from the way she had lived up until now. That morning she was feeling particularly fresh and clear-headed and she realised that the reason for this was that she had begun to go to sleep early as expected by her hostess ever since the night of her arrival. But having a clear head only made her days worse since she was able to feel the full weight of her daily boredom that she had quickly experienced from her first day in the Moon Kingdom.
Universe hadn't been able to find anything to do with herself during the day and she'd eventually found herself spending her days exploring the long passageways and corridors of the palace in order to fill her time. The emptiness of her days really gave her just too much time for her thoughts and that was utterly depressing. Universe also hated the odd looks that the servants gave her - she knew that most of them thought kindly of her since she gave them very little extra work to do but she was also painfully aware that every single one of them were of the opinion that a Princess who rose early without having breakfast and who fetched her own dinner was certainly rather eccentric.
But the thing that made her feel her very worst was the different ways that the other Princesses acted around her - Universe knew that to them she was something strange and unfamiliar to be cautiously edged around and spoken to with the greatest of care.
The most irritating of the Princesses to deal with was Venus who had instantly become fascinated by her and would bombard her with questions about her life as a Star Raider whenever she caught sight of her. The memories of the life that she had left behind were painful to Universe and she just wanted to forget all about during the time she was here but how was she supposed to do that when this nerve-gratingly curious Venusian constantly talked about it whenever she didn't need to stop for breath?
The Moon Princess always made sure to smile and be polite and courteous whenever she spoke to her but Universe knew perfectly well that she was only going out of her way like this for the sake of her mother. It made her feel that the Lunarian Princess only came over to her and talked to her whenever she saw her all by herself because she felt sorry for and the thought of that just made Universe angry. Mars was definitely the strangest person that she'd ever met in her life. The raven-haired Princess was polite but distant towards her – she didn't seem to mind Universe being there but she wouldn't have cared if she hadn't been either. The indifference of the Martian girl left Universe feeling empty and she'd rather that Mars had hated the sight of her than just plain not cared about her.
It was with Jupiter that she had her most simple relationship of all with. To put it bluntly the brown-haired girl didn't like Universe and the newcomer care just as little for her. There was something reassuring and comforting about the undisguised disliking that Jupiter had for her. It was something that Universe knew how to cope with, a problem that she was good at dealing with. From time to time Jupiter would catch her eye and whenever that happened they would just stand and stare at each other, neither of them saying a word as they summed each other up. Sometimes these intense encounters ended as Universe smirked and casually turned away leaving Jupiter seething or when Jupiter turned and walked stiffly out of the room but the end result was always the same – the animosity between the pair of them was growing by the day and soon the floodgates were sure to open…
Universe's relationship with Charon left a bitter taste in her mouth. Whenever the green-haired Princess of the Moon of Pluto was around she could feel her eyes gazing at her and picture the hesitant expression on her face as she opened and closed her mouth again and again, wanting to talk to her but unable to find the right words. Charon watched Universe as often as she could, even finding excuses just so that she could be in the same room as her sometimes. Ever since that first moment when she had looked into Universe's eyes and saw the proud light left there by her friendship with one of the Lyanore, Charon had dearly wanted to talk to her about them. Especially Vaura the recently dead leader of the Dance who she knew that the purple-haired girl must have been especially close to because of the depth and grace of the beauty in her dark eyes. The sad thing was that Charon would have been glad to be her friend but Universe was too proud to be the one who broke their meaningful silence that always hung
between them and since Charon was too nervous to speak it remained and Universe's chance for friendship was wasted.
These reactions all made her feel sick of everything but Princess Mercury's presence in her life seemed to make all of it worth bearing. The purple-haired girl couldn't understand how but for some reason she always knew when Mercury was nearby and when she did she wouldn't be able to look at anything else but her – she wouldn't want to. Mercury seemed to be able to sense whenever she looked at her because after a while she would look over at her and give her a quick smile as if to say "I'm here! Don't feel lonely!" before averting her eyes again.
This was nice but Universe felt that it just wasn't enough…
Now of the two Guardian cats she'd seen very little since advisors of the Queen, Artemis and Luna were both rarely away from her Majesty's side - but what little she had seen of the black and white cats over the last week had been enough to make her stay here worse than it had to be.
Artemis was the one whose behaviour whenever he was around her wasn't so bad but even so the way he acted was enough to irk her - on the occasions that their paths ad met he'd eyed her very carefully as if unsure about what to say to her but he'd always end up greeting her, "Good day Highness." And then he'd continue on his way without stopping…but even though she never turned her head to look back at him she could feel his eyes on her as he gazed speculatively at her retreating figure, watching her every move and wondering what it meant…the white cat didn't understand her and so he was treading carefully around her as if she was a deep pool of water that might drown him if he made a single wrong step.
That was enough to make Universe clench her teeth in itself but what made her breath REALLY hard was Luna's attitude towards her - whenever she wandered into the same place as the purple-haired girl, which oddly enough seemed to happen a lot more than it did with Artemis, Luna would stop and slowly and methodically begin to clean her fur as her gaze became fixed upon Universe and her eyes narrowed even for a feline. However her constant scrutiny and contemplation about Universe was based on a very different reason than her white-furred colleague - her eyes would glimmer at the strange newcomer like a pair of polished onyx's and her small and well-cleaned face was always drawn in cool suspicion.
It seemed that Luna was extremely distrustful of Princess Universe and as she went on happening through the rooms where the new girl would be and staring pointedly at her the purple-haired girl would do nothing but ignore her…however her face would always glower as she restrained her temper and wished that she could have the black cat stuffed.
Of the small orange kitten she'd seen in the arms of Princess Charon the night she'd been formally introduced to the Royal Court and this entire ordeal had begun, 'Estrella' Venus had called her during one of her unprovoked conversations, she had seen nothing over the past week…
The purple-haired girl wanted more than anything to sit with Mercury and slide her arm around her waist, maybe even run her hand though her shimmering blue hair as well. Universe would have dearly liked to be Mercury's friend but she felt so much awe for the pretty blue-haired Princess that she just found it impossible to approach her…all she could do was watch her from afar. And so her loneliness had continued day after day. Queen Serenity would often see her all by herself and ask her if there was anything wrong – concern etched into her lovely face. However Universe always stayed silent, not wanting to cause any trouble and eventually Serenity would sigh and let her go.
It was all very confusing and dispiriting and the brown-eyed girl just couldn't see it getting better anytime soon.
It was late afternoon but on the moon there was no sun for her to watch as it went down - however a lifetime of travelling from planet to planet had given Universe the gift of instinctively knowing what period the day had reached.
Universe sighed as she began to clamber down from the branch - as she climbed down to the earth below she suddenly felt a vague tingling in her spine and realized that she was not alone in the garden. As Universe set foot on the solid ground again a pair of eyes blinked at her from the middle of a thick bush.
Universe's gaze immediately came to settle upon the bush and she gave a long suffering sigh. "Okay, you can come out now." she announced, her voice annoyed.
The bush rustled as the one who lay in concealment within it felt her body stiffen as she was discovered.
"C'mon. Let's have a look at you." Universe snapped as she folded her arms across her chest.
Inside the bush the one who had been watching Universe gathered all of her courage together as she stepped out from her hiding place.
Universe could not help but raise a surprised eyebrow as she recognised the one who had been watching her from the cover of the bush. Estrella gazed up at the Princess warily. There was a look on her small furry face that was a curious mix of worry and bravery.
The kitten had wandered into the Royal Garden about an hour ago where she had wanted to climb her favourite tree which she had always liked to do at least once a day since she could remember. When she had seen Universe already up there crouching on a branch Estrella had been surprised as well as dismayed but she had not run away. Over the last few days since Universe's arrival Estrella had walked carefully around the Palace trying not to be alone with Universe at any time and avoiding her eyes.
Now that she had this chance to watch the new princess without being seen by her the kitten had been unable to resist the temptation to see what Universe was like when she was alone. Since hearing about Universe's past Estrella had come up with millions of fantasies about her which included her eating the raw meat of dead animals when there was no-one around to see her and try as she might the kitten could not resist finding out if it were true.
Now that she had been discovered Estrella was surprised to discover that she wasn't afraid at all.
Universe gave a grunt of irritation. "Oh so it's you. Well what do you want from me?"
Estrella didn't answer the question because she had been wondering about something over the past hour and felt that she had to ask about it.
"Why, Universe up tree?" Estrella asked curiously. "She not cat."
Universe gave the kitten an icy look. "I wanted to be by myself." she responded coldly. "I thought that this was the best place to do that but it looks like I was wrong."
Estrella felt sympathy stirring in her heart as she detected something hidden in the girls voice. Something that showed up in her voice no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
Universe had come here to be alone...
Then the kitten shook herself as she remembered that she had decided that she didn't like Universe because she had once been a huntress. "Strella go now." she muttered and turned to leave the garden.
"Oh no ya don't kitty cat! Hold it a sec!" Universe snapped stepping in front of the kitten as anger suddenly flared up in her heart as she felt the misery she had felt for the past week. "You still haven't told me why you were spying on me!"
Estrella quailed but she answered the question honestly. "Strella wanted to see what Universe, like." she admitted lowering her eyes.
Universe gave a bitter laugh. "Oh yeah? Well don't be so eager to find out. Who knows? You might just get your wish." she retorted sourly as she turned away now done with Estrella as far as she was concerned.
Suddenly Estrella could no longer contain her indignation - she just had to tell Universe what she thought about her so badly that she couldn't stop herself. "Universe, kill animals." Estrella's voice was accusing as she looked up at the girl. "Kill animals, wrong!"
There was a bitter look in Universe's eyes. Even this tiny kitten was afraid of her and didn't want to be around her because of what she had been. "Well you're a baby!" she sneered but her voice was flat because her heart just wasn't in it somehow.
It was the worst thing she could have possibly said and Estrella was quite hurt by Universe's stinging words.
The kitten looked up at her with a serious expression on her face. "Universe, bad." Estrella said simply.
Universe flinched and turning back she stared at the kitten in silence. Her body had completely frozen still and a feeling of bitter coldness had shot through her body. She felt as though a bitter knife had plunged into her heart as she realized what Estrella had said to her. The words would have been bad enough coming from anyone else but the fact that they had come from an innocent little kitten who was barely a few months old made them far more hurt deeply.
She could feel her eyes beginning to sting but she just didn't care - Universe burst into tears as she fell to her knees with a hopeless wail. Burying her face in her hands she wept bitter tears.
Estrella gazed in surprise at the girl who knelt before her sobbing as though her heart was breaking and suddenly she felt ashamed that she could have done this to her. "Ohhh! Don't cry!" she mewed gently as she padded over to Universe and rubbed her head against the girls leg through the slit in her dress. "Strella, be your friend! Shhh!"
Universe uncovered her eyes and looked down at her blindly and Estrella was shocked at the pain in her eyes. The kitten felt a tenderness towards the Princess and as Universe broke down again she allowed the girl to cry into her fur.
After all it was the least she could do.
~*~*~
The day after…
Morning had broken…and now she had another lonely, boring day to look forward to.
Of course since this was the Moon Kingdom the light of the celestial stars in the sky continued to beam down into the water of the fountain anyway. Princess Universe sat at the edge of the perfectly carved marble looking at her reflection in the water.
The light of the stars was reflected in the water and beamed back up into the endless sky giving the fountain the appearance of being a gateway to heaven. Universe didn't even notice the light. All her attention was devoted to her own image that gazed up at her from the mirror-like water in the fountain.
As she gazed into her own deep brown eyes which sparkled with celestial light which burned with such life that they were not equalled by the stars themselves she felt empty. She hardly knew herself anymore...
Where had the proud and free warrior she had been bred to be gone?
It was as if the past she remembered did not belong to her at all. Rather that it was the past of Rula who no longer existed and that was true - Rula had disappeared from the world so that Princess Universe could take her place.
So was she now simply a shadow of what she had once been and nothing more?
Universe shook her head from side to side slowly. What an unsettling thought that was...
It was while Universe looked up from the rippling water and directly into the sky so that the light bathed her hair and lit it up so that it glowed in the darkness in harmony with the stars that Princesses Venus, Charon and Jupiter arrived in the courtyard. Venus had been chattering on cheerfully as usual with Charon and Jupiter giving her their input whenever she broke off and they had the chance to talk themselves.
Just as she was about to start talking once more Venus's eyes wandered over to the fountains edge and settled upon Universe's back. At the sight of the newest Princess with her face heavenward Venus instantly forgot all about what she had been about to say and her curiosity of Universe's life revived on the spot. "Hey Universe!" she exclaimed coming to a stop. "Show me your spear!"
Charon and Jupiter now noticed Universe by the fountain as well and stopped also. Venus waited patiently for Universe's response.
It never came.
Universe was cursing herself for her chance remark about her spear during one of her unprovoked conversations with Venus - the blonde girl was obviously not going to let go of this. All Universe wanted to do was try and forget about the Star Raiders for memories of that life were painful for her. But how was she supposed to when Venus mentioned them every few minutes whenever she saw her?
Universe decided just to ignore her this time.
"Oh pleeeeease!!" Venus pleaded loudly. "Just a tiny peek!"
Universe remained silent trying even harder to ignore her. An acute struggle.
"Why are you being so selfish?!!" Venus demanded thrusting her hands onto her hips and pouting. "SCROOGE!!"
Jupiter glared at Universe's back. Did she think that she was too good to talk to them?
Universe had had enough and pushing herself to her feet she rose from the fountain and set off for the archway behind the other Princesses.
Jupiter watched grimly as the purple-haired princess approach them . "Hey miss aloof! She's talking to you!" she snapped at Universe as she walked past her.
Universe didn't pay her any more attention than she had Venus.
Jupiter's eyes narrowed as Universe simply walked past without giving her a response or even a glance in her direction. The tall Princess's hand rose to grab Universe by the arm and drag her back around to face her but she better of it at the last minute and dropped her hand again.
Charon watched as Universe walked through the archway unimpeded - and then she stepped away from the others and walked after her with a determined look on her face. "Wait right there Universe!" she called.
Universe had been about to walk up a set of stone steps but she stopped upon hearing Charon call after her. Now that she'd stopped Charon hurried up to Universe as the purple-haired girl watched her with a questioning air.
Charon folded her arms and gave Universe a searching look. "What was all that about back there?" she demanded.
"Whatever do you mean?" Universe asked innocently.
But Charon's eyes saw true and she knew that Universe knew what she meant. "You know what I'm talking about." she replied sternly. "Why didn't you answer Venus and Jupiter just now?"
"Why the hell should I?" Universe snapped back with a black scowl, feeling angry at the strict tone of Charon's voice - she didn't have to answer to the Charonian even if she was a Princess.
"Venus was only being friendly. You should have answered her."
"And I suppose that Jupiter was only being helpful when she pointed out that, that twittering Venusian was talking to me?" Universe sneered.
Charon was silent for a few minutes as she was unable to think of a defence for Jupiter's aggressiveness. "Why didn't you speak to us just now?" she repeated her question simply.
Universe had had enough of this. "No reason! I just didn't feel like it okay? Now drop it!"
"No!" Charon exclaimed. "I don't understand you Universe. All we want is to be your friends. And I know that you're really a good person..."
"Oh yeah?" Universe gave a bitter laugh and smirked at the Charonian. "And what makes you so sure about that?"
"Because I know that you have feelings. A heartless cold blooded warrioress could not shed tears as you did." Charon responded seriously. "You've been holding them back your whole life."
Universe stared at her in shock. This was the first time that any of the Princesses had spoken to her seriously about her past...Venus didn't count but she was actually stunned as she realised that Charon knew about her breakdown in the Garden the day before.
"She told you!!" Universe spat venomously.
Estrella had told Charon that she had cried! Universe felt the bitter pang of humiliation welling up in her chest.
"You must not blame her. She's only a baby." Charon said quickly. "She doesn't understand that people try to hide their feelings."
Universe choked back an obvious angry retort.
"But I'd have know you were a good person anyway Universe." Charon continued pressing her advantage.
Universe's eyes narrowed. "Why!!!!!!!!" she snarled - it wasn't a question.
"Because you would never have been able to gain Vaura's friendship if you weren't." Charon said softly. "Your closeness to her is the proof I know that you are a good person. Am I right Universe?"
Universe did not respond to that question because at the mention of the Dance Leader of the Lyanore she had fallen into a morbid daydream about her past...
Almost a year ago Charon the outer moon…
"Rula!"
"It's alright Vaura…I'm here."
Vaura the dance leader of the Lyanore flicked her tail and whinnied with pleasure as she turned to face the direction from which she had heard the voice return her call.
Standing with folded arms and crossed legs leaning with her back against a tree trunk was Rula the huntress, leader of the wandering space warriors known as the Star Raiders. Rula was positioned behind the tree and so only her side was visible to Vaura. The huntress's spear Gafgarion lay propped up against the tree.
Vaura plodded over the grass of the plains of Ayadi to join Rula as the huntress got up and come out from behind the tree. "I was so worried when I didn't see you." Vaura whinnied as she and Rula both came to a halt no more than a few feet away from one another. "I thought that I must have missed you."
"I've been here since morning. I thought you'd never come." Rula responded folding her arms over her scantily covered chest. "I'd been expecting the message you left me long before I found it."
Rula sat on a log by the pool of crystal clear water and looked up at her companion. Vaura was one of the few remaining member of the last dance of Lyanore - a species of animals that dwelt only on Charon. The Lyanore of the plains of Ayadi were all very much akin to horses in appearance and Vaura's coat was an especially rich deep blue which rivalled the very sea itself in beauty and her crest was soft and warm.
Vaura's tail was made up of many strands of silken hair and each of these delicate threads ended in a tiny sphere of blue inside which shone with pure light. The universe itself wondered what the balls within the tails of the Lyanore were made from but this had always been a mystery and was sure to remain so until the day came for the Lyanore race to come to an end.
And as fate had it that day looked to be not far off - once hundreds of the Lyanore had cantered the plains of Ayadi revelling in those golden days and taking sheer joy from their freedom and lives that had been long long. Now there were but ten Lyanore and Vaura was one of them.
Rula had often wondered idly about the balls inside Vaura's tail but all she knew was that when the Lyanore was happy and contented it would give out a scent so sweet that it would coax the huntress into a blissful sleep.
"Lovely Rula, I feel that I love you more than I should." Vaura murmured as she closed her eyes and nuzzled the huntress's face with her snout.
"Why do you say that?" Rula whispered into her ear as she stroked her mane.
In fact Rula knew very well why Vaura had said this. Indeed both the huntress and the Lyanore knew that the reason for the diminished number of the Lyanore was due to the price that their coats could fetch in the intergalactic blackmarket and that to many rich idiots trying to impress other rich idiots their meat was considered a delicacy. The friendship that Rula had struck up with Vaura could hardly have been considered by anyone other than bizarre.
Rula was a huntress and Vaura was a member of a much sought after race of animals that had been almost hunted into extinction - but on the day the two had first met when Rula had wandered away from the other Star raiders and had discovered Vaura who had had a sprained leg Vaura had instantly seen in the huntress's eyes something which made her different from all the others.
There had been an unexpected warmth in Rula's eyes as she had stroked her mane reassuringly whispering to her that it was alright, that she wouldn't tell anyone of her comrades about her - that she was safe. Rula had healed Vaura's leg and from that day on the two had been friends for life.
"Vaura?" Rula whispered tickling the Lyanore's chin teasingly. "Hello? Are you awake?"
Vaura's eyes shot open as she realised that she had spent the last few minutes looking back on the last three months she had spent with Rula while the huntress had been waiting for a reply to her question. "I'm sorry about that." Vaura stammered. "I was just..."
"No need to be sweetie." Rula reprimanded the Lyanore as she returned to stroking her fine blue mane. "But come on tell me. Why did you come out with that just now?"
"It really doesn't matter." Vaura murmured.
"What?" Rula laughed softly to herself. "You're such a weird old thing!"
They spent another half hour like this in blissful silence, not saying anything, not needing to.
"Rula?" Vaura spoke eventually.
"Mmm?"
"You are leaving Charon soon with the Star Raiders are you not?"
Rula wrinkled her brow and sighed wistfully - she had sensed that this question had been coming. "Yes I'm afraid so. I've stalled the Raiders from leaving for a long as I could but they've gotten restless now." she said regretfully. "They want to leave and what's worse, they're beginning to ask questions about where I've been disappearing to while we've been here."
Vaura closed her eyes in sadness…she had always known that one day Rula would have to leave Charon with her group and over the days they had spent together she had grown to dread that day.
How strange though that a Lyanore should have such a friendship. After all …a huntress and a Lyanore? Merely the passing thought of it was absurd! However in spite of their differences Rula was one of the greatest friends she had ever had and ashamed though she was to admit it Vaura loved her almost more than anyone else in the world…though not, of course, as much as the royal family of Charon to whom she and her kin were devoted to.
It seemed so long ago that the two had first met on the day the Star Raiders had first arrived on Charon. News had come about the Star raiders arrival and the dance had run for their place of hiding in terror.
Vaura had fallen and sprained her leg being left behind in the process she remembered how she had trembled out of sheer fright when Rula had spotted her from atop the cliff she had been prowling. As the huntress had begun her descent into the canyon Vaura had wondered what she was going to do to her.
Skin her? Eat her? Claim her as her own?
None of these had been Rula's intention as it had turned out. Vaura had been weak with the pain in her leg but weaker still when Rula had smiled warmly and reassuringly at her as she had begun to tend her leg.
Then Vaura had asked the huntress why she had helped her and now the Lyanore mused as she recalled Rula's response.
'Because I wanted to.'
From that day on the huntress and the Lyanore had met here in this, their secret place every day. Rula had not told the other Raiders about Vaura for she knew that if she had then they would have hunted her down and killed her. Grift would have understood she was sure but the rest of them...
Vaura had realised that Rula was proud and fearless but at the same time lonely and needing the companionship of another woman.
"Do you really have to go?" Vaura asked like a little girl.
"Fraid so Vaura."
"But I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you Vaura." the huntress sighed. "I wish that things could be different."
"You could leave the Star Raiders if you wanted and stay here." Vaura tried although she already knew that it would be useless. "I'd like that and I know that my daughter Charrenity would love to meet you."
"You know that I can't do that Vaura. The Raiders need me and anyway your people would never trust me. You only do because you couldn't run away when you first saw the day I arrived and so you got to know me." Rula pointed out. "You know it would never work out."
Vaura closed her eyes and already she could feel tears pricking up…she felt incredibly childish but for some reason she never felt the need to mask her emotions with the dignity that came with her position f Dance Leader when she was with Rula.
"Heeeeey!" Rula whispered seeing this and putting a hand on the side of the Lyanore's face and stroking with a tenderness that she had not known until she'd met Vaura. "Don't cry sweetie…smile instead! We'll be friends forever. We can't see each other very often but the friendship can be there."
Vaura opened her moist eyes again as she heard this and looked into Rula's face.
"The fact is I'm not a home bird Vaura. I never stay anywhere for long." the huntress concluded. "I'd adapt as badly to your life as you would to mine."
"Will I ever see you again?" Vaura's voice was regretful.
"Of course you will. One day. Somehow." Rula's sweet and reassuring voice was the most beautiful thing Vaura had ever heard.
There was a silence as the two friends looked into each other's eyes as if trying to store enough of each other in their memories to last the rest of their lives and as they shared this one last moment their eyes told each other things that just couldn't be said with words.
"I have to go now." Rula said regretfully after a while.
"Yes."
"Goodbye Vaura."
"Until we meet again Rula."
Rula leant over and kissed Vaura on the forehead. "One of us has to go." She remarked flatly. "Since these are your plains I guess it just has to be me. Stay well Vaura."
With that the huntress rose to her feet and set off for the Star Raider camp.
Vaura stood completely still, unable to bear to turn and watch her go. Tears poured down the snout of the Dance Leader. As Rula walked away a solitary tear sparkled as it traced its way down her face. Farewell Vaura. She whispered in the silence of her thoughts. We'll meet again…
Rula did not get far - as she reached the halfway point between the Star Raiders camp and the place she had left Vaura she stopped and leant against a tree.
As she stood in silence Rula thought for a long while and inevitably her thoughts were about the Lyanore she had left in tears. Rula sighed at great length. That had been the last thing she had ever wanted. Vaura was the friend she loved the most.
A female who understood and cared for her in a way no one else ever had...so then why was she going back to the Star Raiders?
After all her best friend in the world was right here so why chase after something that she could never find anywhere else…?
No point.
Rula's mind was made up and a light shone in her eyes as she felt a great weight lift from her shoulders and the knot suddenly vanishing from her heart. "Vaura!!!!" she cried ecstatically.
The huntress turned and ran back the way she had come...back to Vaura. "Vaura wait!!! Vaura of course I love you!!! Vaura wait for me!!!!"
Rula screamed her voice as free as the wind in her sudden happiness - she had decided that she would leave the Star Raiders and stay here for the rest of her life on Charon with the friend she loved who loved her.
Rula's heart was clear at last. "Vaura!!!!" she cried as she arrived in their secret place.
At first she could not see her friend and she could only gaze wildly around hardly able to wait to see her again - then she saw her and her heart turned to ice.
Rula skidded to a halt and stopped, her eyes widening as her face went pale. "No..." she whispered as quietly as death.
There in the grass lay Vaura...dead.
"Vaura..." Rula collapsed and stared with empty eyes. "Oh Vaura..."
There before her, her first true friend in the world lay dead.
It was probably only her own imagination but she felt as if she could hear a faint victorious chuckle in the air.
"Please forgive me." Rula murmured as the tears flowed down her face unchecked.
And it was this that twisted in her heart like a bitter knife at that moment and continued to do so for the rest of her life.
The present day - The Moon Kingdom…
It felt as though it had all happened such a long time ago. A lifetime even...though in had fact it been little more than eight months ago.
But it made no difference either way. Vaura was dead and however much Universe tried to twist and turn to avoid it she had never been able to escape the terrible feeling that it was all her fault. She could never help but think that if Vaura had never met her then the Lyanore would have been alive today.
"Universe?" a voice spoke to her as if from a great distance. "Are you alright?"
Universe realised that she had become so lost in her daydream about that past that she had been staring at her feet in silence for several minutes while Charon had been waiting for her to answer her question.
Looking back up she saw Charon staring at her, concern written all over her comely face. Universe gazed at her silently unable to think of anything to say to her.
"Universe? You're ill!" Charon suddenly exclaimed with widened eyes.
Universe realised that her face had gone pale. One thing was clear to her - she could never tell Charon about her last day with Vaura.
If she blamed herself for what had happened to her then what would Charon think of her if she were to know the truth?
Universe was sure that Charon would hate her…she could not tell her…she couldn't tell anybody for as long as she lived. Universe knew that she would live until the end of her days holding her dreadful secret to her chest, locked up in her heart where it would torment her until her final days.
None of these thoughts showed on her face but the skin had gone milk white with the stress of her mind in turmoil.
Charon was completely oblivious about what the purple-haired Princess was thinking and she only looked at her in growing alarm. "We have to get you to the Queen! She'll get someone to make you better." Charon exclaimed as she reached out to take hold of Universe's arm.
Universe instinctively shrugged off the kindly hand - she felt sick to her stomach. She had practically murdered Vaura and now here was Charon worrying about her.
In fact the outer moon princess who had barely known her for a couple of days cared about her in a way the Star Raiders never had even though she'd been among them her whole life. This time she felt strangely unconcerned when she felt the prickling behind her eyes.
The Star Raiders had thought her to be well nigh invincible and because of that she had never dared let any of them see her shed tears. She had been their leader and so she had had no right to feel tenderness. That had been why she had lived such a charade for so long.
But she did not care if Charon saw her cry - she knew that the Charonian princess would not sneer and mock her for her feelings. She let go secure in the knowledge that it would do her no harm.
The tears falling freely she let her tense body slump back against the wall. "What's wrong?" Charon exclaimed surprised by the sight of tears in Universe's eyes after being so used to the uncaring attitude that the purple haired girl had shown her ever since she had arrived several days ago.
Universe could not reply as her body convulsed with silent sobs. Strangely she felt better for it, for in a way she had been putting this off since Vaura had died.
"Heeey!" Charon whispered pulling Universe from the wall to sit down with her as she put her arms around her. "It's alright Universe. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. If you want to cry then you cry. There's nobody here to see you but me and I'll never tell. I promise."
The Heartache of a Lonely Girl
Three days after the arrival and introduction of Princess Universe…
Over the next couple of days Universe found herself wondering if all of this had been such a good idea.
After the night of her arrival the newest Princess had immediately been struck by just how different a Princess's way of life was from the way she had lived up until now. That morning she was feeling particularly fresh and clear-headed and she realised that the reason for this was that she had begun to go to sleep early as expected by her hostess ever since the night of her arrival. But having a clear head only made her days worse since she was able to feel the full weight of her daily boredom that she had quickly experienced from her first day in the Moon Kingdom.
Universe hadn't been able to find anything to do with herself during the day and she'd eventually found herself spending her days exploring the long passageways and corridors of the palace in order to fill her time. The emptiness of her days really gave her just too much time for her thoughts and that was utterly depressing. Universe also hated the odd looks that the servants gave her - she knew that most of them thought kindly of her since she gave them very little extra work to do but she was also painfully aware that every single one of them were of the opinion that a Princess who rose early without having breakfast and who fetched her own dinner was certainly rather eccentric.
But the thing that made her feel her very worst was the different ways that the other Princesses acted around her - Universe knew that to them she was something strange and unfamiliar to be cautiously edged around and spoken to with the greatest of care.
The most irritating of the Princesses to deal with was Venus who had instantly become fascinated by her and would bombard her with questions about her life as a Star Raider whenever she caught sight of her. The memories of the life that she had left behind were painful to Universe and she just wanted to forget all about during the time she was here but how was she supposed to do that when this nerve-gratingly curious Venusian constantly talked about it whenever she didn't need to stop for breath?
The Moon Princess always made sure to smile and be polite and courteous whenever she spoke to her but Universe knew perfectly well that she was only going out of her way like this for the sake of her mother. It made her feel that the Lunarian Princess only came over to her and talked to her whenever she saw her all by herself because she felt sorry for and the thought of that just made Universe angry. Mars was definitely the strangest person that she'd ever met in her life. The raven-haired Princess was polite but distant towards her – she didn't seem to mind Universe being there but she wouldn't have cared if she hadn't been either. The indifference of the Martian girl left Universe feeling empty and she'd rather that Mars had hated the sight of her than just plain not cared about her.
It was with Jupiter that she had her most simple relationship of all with. To put it bluntly the brown-haired girl didn't like Universe and the newcomer care just as little for her. There was something reassuring and comforting about the undisguised disliking that Jupiter had for her. It was something that Universe knew how to cope with, a problem that she was good at dealing with. From time to time Jupiter would catch her eye and whenever that happened they would just stand and stare at each other, neither of them saying a word as they summed each other up. Sometimes these intense encounters ended as Universe smirked and casually turned away leaving Jupiter seething or when Jupiter turned and walked stiffly out of the room but the end result was always the same – the animosity between the pair of them was growing by the day and soon the floodgates were sure to open…
Universe's relationship with Charon left a bitter taste in her mouth. Whenever the green-haired Princess of the Moon of Pluto was around she could feel her eyes gazing at her and picture the hesitant expression on her face as she opened and closed her mouth again and again, wanting to talk to her but unable to find the right words. Charon watched Universe as often as she could, even finding excuses just so that she could be in the same room as her sometimes. Ever since that first moment when she had looked into Universe's eyes and saw the proud light left there by her friendship with one of the Lyanore, Charon had dearly wanted to talk to her about them. Especially Vaura the recently dead leader of the Dance who she knew that the purple-haired girl must have been especially close to because of the depth and grace of the beauty in her dark eyes. The sad thing was that Charon would have been glad to be her friend but Universe was too proud to be the one who broke their meaningful silence that always hung
between them and since Charon was too nervous to speak it remained and Universe's chance for friendship was wasted.
These reactions all made her feel sick of everything but Princess Mercury's presence in her life seemed to make all of it worth bearing. The purple-haired girl couldn't understand how but for some reason she always knew when Mercury was nearby and when she did she wouldn't be able to look at anything else but her – she wouldn't want to. Mercury seemed to be able to sense whenever she looked at her because after a while she would look over at her and give her a quick smile as if to say "I'm here! Don't feel lonely!" before averting her eyes again.
This was nice but Universe felt that it just wasn't enough…
Now of the two Guardian cats she'd seen very little since advisors of the Queen, Artemis and Luna were both rarely away from her Majesty's side - but what little she had seen of the black and white cats over the last week had been enough to make her stay here worse than it had to be.
Artemis was the one whose behaviour whenever he was around her wasn't so bad but even so the way he acted was enough to irk her - on the occasions that their paths ad met he'd eyed her very carefully as if unsure about what to say to her but he'd always end up greeting her, "Good day Highness." And then he'd continue on his way without stopping…but even though she never turned her head to look back at him she could feel his eyes on her as he gazed speculatively at her retreating figure, watching her every move and wondering what it meant…the white cat didn't understand her and so he was treading carefully around her as if she was a deep pool of water that might drown him if he made a single wrong step.
That was enough to make Universe clench her teeth in itself but what made her breath REALLY hard was Luna's attitude towards her - whenever she wandered into the same place as the purple-haired girl, which oddly enough seemed to happen a lot more than it did with Artemis, Luna would stop and slowly and methodically begin to clean her fur as her gaze became fixed upon Universe and her eyes narrowed even for a feline. However her constant scrutiny and contemplation about Universe was based on a very different reason than her white-furred colleague - her eyes would glimmer at the strange newcomer like a pair of polished onyx's and her small and well-cleaned face was always drawn in cool suspicion.
It seemed that Luna was extremely distrustful of Princess Universe and as she went on happening through the rooms where the new girl would be and staring pointedly at her the purple-haired girl would do nothing but ignore her…however her face would always glower as she restrained her temper and wished that she could have the black cat stuffed.
Of the small orange kitten she'd seen in the arms of Princess Charon the night she'd been formally introduced to the Royal Court and this entire ordeal had begun, 'Estrella' Venus had called her during one of her unprovoked conversations, she had seen nothing over the past week…
The purple-haired girl wanted more than anything to sit with Mercury and slide her arm around her waist, maybe even run her hand though her shimmering blue hair as well. Universe would have dearly liked to be Mercury's friend but she felt so much awe for the pretty blue-haired Princess that she just found it impossible to approach her…all she could do was watch her from afar. And so her loneliness had continued day after day. Queen Serenity would often see her all by herself and ask her if there was anything wrong – concern etched into her lovely face. However Universe always stayed silent, not wanting to cause any trouble and eventually Serenity would sigh and let her go.
It was all very confusing and dispiriting and the brown-eyed girl just couldn't see it getting better anytime soon.
It was late afternoon but on the moon there was no sun for her to watch as it went down - however a lifetime of travelling from planet to planet had given Universe the gift of instinctively knowing what period the day had reached.
Universe sighed as she began to clamber down from the branch - as she climbed down to the earth below she suddenly felt a vague tingling in her spine and realized that she was not alone in the garden. As Universe set foot on the solid ground again a pair of eyes blinked at her from the middle of a thick bush.
Universe's gaze immediately came to settle upon the bush and she gave a long suffering sigh. "Okay, you can come out now." she announced, her voice annoyed.
The bush rustled as the one who lay in concealment within it felt her body stiffen as she was discovered.
"C'mon. Let's have a look at you." Universe snapped as she folded her arms across her chest.
Inside the bush the one who had been watching Universe gathered all of her courage together as she stepped out from her hiding place.
Universe could not help but raise a surprised eyebrow as she recognised the one who had been watching her from the cover of the bush. Estrella gazed up at the Princess warily. There was a look on her small furry face that was a curious mix of worry and bravery.
The kitten had wandered into the Royal Garden about an hour ago where she had wanted to climb her favourite tree which she had always liked to do at least once a day since she could remember. When she had seen Universe already up there crouching on a branch Estrella had been surprised as well as dismayed but she had not run away. Over the last few days since Universe's arrival Estrella had walked carefully around the Palace trying not to be alone with Universe at any time and avoiding her eyes.
Now that she had this chance to watch the new princess without being seen by her the kitten had been unable to resist the temptation to see what Universe was like when she was alone. Since hearing about Universe's past Estrella had come up with millions of fantasies about her which included her eating the raw meat of dead animals when there was no-one around to see her and try as she might the kitten could not resist finding out if it were true.
Now that she had been discovered Estrella was surprised to discover that she wasn't afraid at all.
Universe gave a grunt of irritation. "Oh so it's you. Well what do you want from me?"
Estrella didn't answer the question because she had been wondering about something over the past hour and felt that she had to ask about it.
"Why, Universe up tree?" Estrella asked curiously. "She not cat."
Universe gave the kitten an icy look. "I wanted to be by myself." she responded coldly. "I thought that this was the best place to do that but it looks like I was wrong."
Estrella felt sympathy stirring in her heart as she detected something hidden in the girls voice. Something that showed up in her voice no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
Universe had come here to be alone...
Then the kitten shook herself as she remembered that she had decided that she didn't like Universe because she had once been a huntress. "Strella go now." she muttered and turned to leave the garden.
"Oh no ya don't kitty cat! Hold it a sec!" Universe snapped stepping in front of the kitten as anger suddenly flared up in her heart as she felt the misery she had felt for the past week. "You still haven't told me why you were spying on me!"
Estrella quailed but she answered the question honestly. "Strella wanted to see what Universe, like." she admitted lowering her eyes.
Universe gave a bitter laugh. "Oh yeah? Well don't be so eager to find out. Who knows? You might just get your wish." she retorted sourly as she turned away now done with Estrella as far as she was concerned.
Suddenly Estrella could no longer contain her indignation - she just had to tell Universe what she thought about her so badly that she couldn't stop herself. "Universe, kill animals." Estrella's voice was accusing as she looked up at the girl. "Kill animals, wrong!"
There was a bitter look in Universe's eyes. Even this tiny kitten was afraid of her and didn't want to be around her because of what she had been. "Well you're a baby!" she sneered but her voice was flat because her heart just wasn't in it somehow.
It was the worst thing she could have possibly said and Estrella was quite hurt by Universe's stinging words.
The kitten looked up at her with a serious expression on her face. "Universe, bad." Estrella said simply.
Universe flinched and turning back she stared at the kitten in silence. Her body had completely frozen still and a feeling of bitter coldness had shot through her body. She felt as though a bitter knife had plunged into her heart as she realized what Estrella had said to her. The words would have been bad enough coming from anyone else but the fact that they had come from an innocent little kitten who was barely a few months old made them far more hurt deeply.
She could feel her eyes beginning to sting but she just didn't care - Universe burst into tears as she fell to her knees with a hopeless wail. Burying her face in her hands she wept bitter tears.
Estrella gazed in surprise at the girl who knelt before her sobbing as though her heart was breaking and suddenly she felt ashamed that she could have done this to her. "Ohhh! Don't cry!" she mewed gently as she padded over to Universe and rubbed her head against the girls leg through the slit in her dress. "Strella, be your friend! Shhh!"
Universe uncovered her eyes and looked down at her blindly and Estrella was shocked at the pain in her eyes. The kitten felt a tenderness towards the Princess and as Universe broke down again she allowed the girl to cry into her fur.
After all it was the least she could do.
~*~*~
The day after…
Morning had broken…and now she had another lonely, boring day to look forward to.
Of course since this was the Moon Kingdom the light of the celestial stars in the sky continued to beam down into the water of the fountain anyway. Princess Universe sat at the edge of the perfectly carved marble looking at her reflection in the water.
The light of the stars was reflected in the water and beamed back up into the endless sky giving the fountain the appearance of being a gateway to heaven. Universe didn't even notice the light. All her attention was devoted to her own image that gazed up at her from the mirror-like water in the fountain.
As she gazed into her own deep brown eyes which sparkled with celestial light which burned with such life that they were not equalled by the stars themselves she felt empty. She hardly knew herself anymore...
Where had the proud and free warrior she had been bred to be gone?
It was as if the past she remembered did not belong to her at all. Rather that it was the past of Rula who no longer existed and that was true - Rula had disappeared from the world so that Princess Universe could take her place.
So was she now simply a shadow of what she had once been and nothing more?
Universe shook her head from side to side slowly. What an unsettling thought that was...
It was while Universe looked up from the rippling water and directly into the sky so that the light bathed her hair and lit it up so that it glowed in the darkness in harmony with the stars that Princesses Venus, Charon and Jupiter arrived in the courtyard. Venus had been chattering on cheerfully as usual with Charon and Jupiter giving her their input whenever she broke off and they had the chance to talk themselves.
Just as she was about to start talking once more Venus's eyes wandered over to the fountains edge and settled upon Universe's back. At the sight of the newest Princess with her face heavenward Venus instantly forgot all about what she had been about to say and her curiosity of Universe's life revived on the spot. "Hey Universe!" she exclaimed coming to a stop. "Show me your spear!"
Charon and Jupiter now noticed Universe by the fountain as well and stopped also. Venus waited patiently for Universe's response.
It never came.
Universe was cursing herself for her chance remark about her spear during one of her unprovoked conversations with Venus - the blonde girl was obviously not going to let go of this. All Universe wanted to do was try and forget about the Star Raiders for memories of that life were painful for her. But how was she supposed to when Venus mentioned them every few minutes whenever she saw her?
Universe decided just to ignore her this time.
"Oh pleeeeease!!" Venus pleaded loudly. "Just a tiny peek!"
Universe remained silent trying even harder to ignore her. An acute struggle.
"Why are you being so selfish?!!" Venus demanded thrusting her hands onto her hips and pouting. "SCROOGE!!"
Jupiter glared at Universe's back. Did she think that she was too good to talk to them?
Universe had had enough and pushing herself to her feet she rose from the fountain and set off for the archway behind the other Princesses.
Jupiter watched grimly as the purple-haired princess approach them . "Hey miss aloof! She's talking to you!" she snapped at Universe as she walked past her.
Universe didn't pay her any more attention than she had Venus.
Jupiter's eyes narrowed as Universe simply walked past without giving her a response or even a glance in her direction. The tall Princess's hand rose to grab Universe by the arm and drag her back around to face her but she better of it at the last minute and dropped her hand again.
Charon watched as Universe walked through the archway unimpeded - and then she stepped away from the others and walked after her with a determined look on her face. "Wait right there Universe!" she called.
Universe had been about to walk up a set of stone steps but she stopped upon hearing Charon call after her. Now that she'd stopped Charon hurried up to Universe as the purple-haired girl watched her with a questioning air.
Charon folded her arms and gave Universe a searching look. "What was all that about back there?" she demanded.
"Whatever do you mean?" Universe asked innocently.
But Charon's eyes saw true and she knew that Universe knew what she meant. "You know what I'm talking about." she replied sternly. "Why didn't you answer Venus and Jupiter just now?"
"Why the hell should I?" Universe snapped back with a black scowl, feeling angry at the strict tone of Charon's voice - she didn't have to answer to the Charonian even if she was a Princess.
"Venus was only being friendly. You should have answered her."
"And I suppose that Jupiter was only being helpful when she pointed out that, that twittering Venusian was talking to me?" Universe sneered.
Charon was silent for a few minutes as she was unable to think of a defence for Jupiter's aggressiveness. "Why didn't you speak to us just now?" she repeated her question simply.
Universe had had enough of this. "No reason! I just didn't feel like it okay? Now drop it!"
"No!" Charon exclaimed. "I don't understand you Universe. All we want is to be your friends. And I know that you're really a good person..."
"Oh yeah?" Universe gave a bitter laugh and smirked at the Charonian. "And what makes you so sure about that?"
"Because I know that you have feelings. A heartless cold blooded warrioress could not shed tears as you did." Charon responded seriously. "You've been holding them back your whole life."
Universe stared at her in shock. This was the first time that any of the Princesses had spoken to her seriously about her past...Venus didn't count but she was actually stunned as she realised that Charon knew about her breakdown in the Garden the day before.
"She told you!!" Universe spat venomously.
Estrella had told Charon that she had cried! Universe felt the bitter pang of humiliation welling up in her chest.
"You must not blame her. She's only a baby." Charon said quickly. "She doesn't understand that people try to hide their feelings."
Universe choked back an obvious angry retort.
"But I'd have know you were a good person anyway Universe." Charon continued pressing her advantage.
Universe's eyes narrowed. "Why!!!!!!!!" she snarled - it wasn't a question.
"Because you would never have been able to gain Vaura's friendship if you weren't." Charon said softly. "Your closeness to her is the proof I know that you are a good person. Am I right Universe?"
Universe did not respond to that question because at the mention of the Dance Leader of the Lyanore she had fallen into a morbid daydream about her past...
Almost a year ago Charon the outer moon…
"Rula!"
"It's alright Vaura…I'm here."
Vaura the dance leader of the Lyanore flicked her tail and whinnied with pleasure as she turned to face the direction from which she had heard the voice return her call.
Standing with folded arms and crossed legs leaning with her back against a tree trunk was Rula the huntress, leader of the wandering space warriors known as the Star Raiders. Rula was positioned behind the tree and so only her side was visible to Vaura. The huntress's spear Gafgarion lay propped up against the tree.
Vaura plodded over the grass of the plains of Ayadi to join Rula as the huntress got up and come out from behind the tree. "I was so worried when I didn't see you." Vaura whinnied as she and Rula both came to a halt no more than a few feet away from one another. "I thought that I must have missed you."
"I've been here since morning. I thought you'd never come." Rula responded folding her arms over her scantily covered chest. "I'd been expecting the message you left me long before I found it."
Rula sat on a log by the pool of crystal clear water and looked up at her companion. Vaura was one of the few remaining member of the last dance of Lyanore - a species of animals that dwelt only on Charon. The Lyanore of the plains of Ayadi were all very much akin to horses in appearance and Vaura's coat was an especially rich deep blue which rivalled the very sea itself in beauty and her crest was soft and warm.
Vaura's tail was made up of many strands of silken hair and each of these delicate threads ended in a tiny sphere of blue inside which shone with pure light. The universe itself wondered what the balls within the tails of the Lyanore were made from but this had always been a mystery and was sure to remain so until the day came for the Lyanore race to come to an end.
And as fate had it that day looked to be not far off - once hundreds of the Lyanore had cantered the plains of Ayadi revelling in those golden days and taking sheer joy from their freedom and lives that had been long long. Now there were but ten Lyanore and Vaura was one of them.
Rula had often wondered idly about the balls inside Vaura's tail but all she knew was that when the Lyanore was happy and contented it would give out a scent so sweet that it would coax the huntress into a blissful sleep.
"Lovely Rula, I feel that I love you more than I should." Vaura murmured as she closed her eyes and nuzzled the huntress's face with her snout.
"Why do you say that?" Rula whispered into her ear as she stroked her mane.
In fact Rula knew very well why Vaura had said this. Indeed both the huntress and the Lyanore knew that the reason for the diminished number of the Lyanore was due to the price that their coats could fetch in the intergalactic blackmarket and that to many rich idiots trying to impress other rich idiots their meat was considered a delicacy. The friendship that Rula had struck up with Vaura could hardly have been considered by anyone other than bizarre.
Rula was a huntress and Vaura was a member of a much sought after race of animals that had been almost hunted into extinction - but on the day the two had first met when Rula had wandered away from the other Star raiders and had discovered Vaura who had had a sprained leg Vaura had instantly seen in the huntress's eyes something which made her different from all the others.
There had been an unexpected warmth in Rula's eyes as she had stroked her mane reassuringly whispering to her that it was alright, that she wouldn't tell anyone of her comrades about her - that she was safe. Rula had healed Vaura's leg and from that day on the two had been friends for life.
"Vaura?" Rula whispered tickling the Lyanore's chin teasingly. "Hello? Are you awake?"
Vaura's eyes shot open as she realised that she had spent the last few minutes looking back on the last three months she had spent with Rula while the huntress had been waiting for a reply to her question. "I'm sorry about that." Vaura stammered. "I was just..."
"No need to be sweetie." Rula reprimanded the Lyanore as she returned to stroking her fine blue mane. "But come on tell me. Why did you come out with that just now?"
"It really doesn't matter." Vaura murmured.
"What?" Rula laughed softly to herself. "You're such a weird old thing!"
They spent another half hour like this in blissful silence, not saying anything, not needing to.
"Rula?" Vaura spoke eventually.
"Mmm?"
"You are leaving Charon soon with the Star Raiders are you not?"
Rula wrinkled her brow and sighed wistfully - she had sensed that this question had been coming. "Yes I'm afraid so. I've stalled the Raiders from leaving for a long as I could but they've gotten restless now." she said regretfully. "They want to leave and what's worse, they're beginning to ask questions about where I've been disappearing to while we've been here."
Vaura closed her eyes in sadness…she had always known that one day Rula would have to leave Charon with her group and over the days they had spent together she had grown to dread that day.
How strange though that a Lyanore should have such a friendship. After all …a huntress and a Lyanore? Merely the passing thought of it was absurd! However in spite of their differences Rula was one of the greatest friends she had ever had and ashamed though she was to admit it Vaura loved her almost more than anyone else in the world…though not, of course, as much as the royal family of Charon to whom she and her kin were devoted to.
It seemed so long ago that the two had first met on the day the Star Raiders had first arrived on Charon. News had come about the Star raiders arrival and the dance had run for their place of hiding in terror.
Vaura had fallen and sprained her leg being left behind in the process she remembered how she had trembled out of sheer fright when Rula had spotted her from atop the cliff she had been prowling. As the huntress had begun her descent into the canyon Vaura had wondered what she was going to do to her.
Skin her? Eat her? Claim her as her own?
None of these had been Rula's intention as it had turned out. Vaura had been weak with the pain in her leg but weaker still when Rula had smiled warmly and reassuringly at her as she had begun to tend her leg.
Then Vaura had asked the huntress why she had helped her and now the Lyanore mused as she recalled Rula's response.
'Because I wanted to.'
From that day on the huntress and the Lyanore had met here in this, their secret place every day. Rula had not told the other Raiders about Vaura for she knew that if she had then they would have hunted her down and killed her. Grift would have understood she was sure but the rest of them...
Vaura had realised that Rula was proud and fearless but at the same time lonely and needing the companionship of another woman.
"Do you really have to go?" Vaura asked like a little girl.
"Fraid so Vaura."
"But I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you Vaura." the huntress sighed. "I wish that things could be different."
"You could leave the Star Raiders if you wanted and stay here." Vaura tried although she already knew that it would be useless. "I'd like that and I know that my daughter Charrenity would love to meet you."
"You know that I can't do that Vaura. The Raiders need me and anyway your people would never trust me. You only do because you couldn't run away when you first saw the day I arrived and so you got to know me." Rula pointed out. "You know it would never work out."
Vaura closed her eyes and already she could feel tears pricking up…she felt incredibly childish but for some reason she never felt the need to mask her emotions with the dignity that came with her position f Dance Leader when she was with Rula.
"Heeeeey!" Rula whispered seeing this and putting a hand on the side of the Lyanore's face and stroking with a tenderness that she had not known until she'd met Vaura. "Don't cry sweetie…smile instead! We'll be friends forever. We can't see each other very often but the friendship can be there."
Vaura opened her moist eyes again as she heard this and looked into Rula's face.
"The fact is I'm not a home bird Vaura. I never stay anywhere for long." the huntress concluded. "I'd adapt as badly to your life as you would to mine."
"Will I ever see you again?" Vaura's voice was regretful.
"Of course you will. One day. Somehow." Rula's sweet and reassuring voice was the most beautiful thing Vaura had ever heard.
There was a silence as the two friends looked into each other's eyes as if trying to store enough of each other in their memories to last the rest of their lives and as they shared this one last moment their eyes told each other things that just couldn't be said with words.
"I have to go now." Rula said regretfully after a while.
"Yes."
"Goodbye Vaura."
"Until we meet again Rula."
Rula leant over and kissed Vaura on the forehead. "One of us has to go." She remarked flatly. "Since these are your plains I guess it just has to be me. Stay well Vaura."
With that the huntress rose to her feet and set off for the Star Raider camp.
Vaura stood completely still, unable to bear to turn and watch her go. Tears poured down the snout of the Dance Leader. As Rula walked away a solitary tear sparkled as it traced its way down her face. Farewell Vaura. She whispered in the silence of her thoughts. We'll meet again…
Rula did not get far - as she reached the halfway point between the Star Raiders camp and the place she had left Vaura she stopped and leant against a tree.
As she stood in silence Rula thought for a long while and inevitably her thoughts were about the Lyanore she had left in tears. Rula sighed at great length. That had been the last thing she had ever wanted. Vaura was the friend she loved the most.
A female who understood and cared for her in a way no one else ever had...so then why was she going back to the Star Raiders?
After all her best friend in the world was right here so why chase after something that she could never find anywhere else…?
No point.
Rula's mind was made up and a light shone in her eyes as she felt a great weight lift from her shoulders and the knot suddenly vanishing from her heart. "Vaura!!!!" she cried ecstatically.
The huntress turned and ran back the way she had come...back to Vaura. "Vaura wait!!! Vaura of course I love you!!! Vaura wait for me!!!!"
Rula screamed her voice as free as the wind in her sudden happiness - she had decided that she would leave the Star Raiders and stay here for the rest of her life on Charon with the friend she loved who loved her.
Rula's heart was clear at last. "Vaura!!!!" she cried as she arrived in their secret place.
At first she could not see her friend and she could only gaze wildly around hardly able to wait to see her again - then she saw her and her heart turned to ice.
Rula skidded to a halt and stopped, her eyes widening as her face went pale. "No..." she whispered as quietly as death.
There in the grass lay Vaura...dead.
"Vaura..." Rula collapsed and stared with empty eyes. "Oh Vaura..."
There before her, her first true friend in the world lay dead.
It was probably only her own imagination but she felt as if she could hear a faint victorious chuckle in the air.
"Please forgive me." Rula murmured as the tears flowed down her face unchecked.
And it was this that twisted in her heart like a bitter knife at that moment and continued to do so for the rest of her life.
The present day - The Moon Kingdom…
It felt as though it had all happened such a long time ago. A lifetime even...though in had fact it been little more than eight months ago.
But it made no difference either way. Vaura was dead and however much Universe tried to twist and turn to avoid it she had never been able to escape the terrible feeling that it was all her fault. She could never help but think that if Vaura had never met her then the Lyanore would have been alive today.
"Universe?" a voice spoke to her as if from a great distance. "Are you alright?"
Universe realised that she had become so lost in her daydream about that past that she had been staring at her feet in silence for several minutes while Charon had been waiting for her to answer her question.
Looking back up she saw Charon staring at her, concern written all over her comely face. Universe gazed at her silently unable to think of anything to say to her.
"Universe? You're ill!" Charon suddenly exclaimed with widened eyes.
Universe realised that her face had gone pale. One thing was clear to her - she could never tell Charon about her last day with Vaura.
If she blamed herself for what had happened to her then what would Charon think of her if she were to know the truth?
Universe was sure that Charon would hate her…she could not tell her…she couldn't tell anybody for as long as she lived. Universe knew that she would live until the end of her days holding her dreadful secret to her chest, locked up in her heart where it would torment her until her final days.
None of these thoughts showed on her face but the skin had gone milk white with the stress of her mind in turmoil.
Charon was completely oblivious about what the purple-haired Princess was thinking and she only looked at her in growing alarm. "We have to get you to the Queen! She'll get someone to make you better." Charon exclaimed as she reached out to take hold of Universe's arm.
Universe instinctively shrugged off the kindly hand - she felt sick to her stomach. She had practically murdered Vaura and now here was Charon worrying about her.
In fact the outer moon princess who had barely known her for a couple of days cared about her in a way the Star Raiders never had even though she'd been among them her whole life. This time she felt strangely unconcerned when she felt the prickling behind her eyes.
The Star Raiders had thought her to be well nigh invincible and because of that she had never dared let any of them see her shed tears. She had been their leader and so she had had no right to feel tenderness. That had been why she had lived such a charade for so long.
But she did not care if Charon saw her cry - she knew that the Charonian princess would not sneer and mock her for her feelings. She let go secure in the knowledge that it would do her no harm.
The tears falling freely she let her tense body slump back against the wall. "What's wrong?" Charon exclaimed surprised by the sight of tears in Universe's eyes after being so used to the uncaring attitude that the purple haired girl had shown her ever since she had arrived several days ago.
Universe could not reply as her body convulsed with silent sobs. Strangely she felt better for it, for in a way she had been putting this off since Vaura had died.
"Heeey!" Charon whispered pulling Universe from the wall to sit down with her as she put her arms around her. "It's alright Universe. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. If you want to cry then you cry. There's nobody here to see you but me and I'll never tell. I promise."