Chapter Twelve
Universe's Secret
Universe felt the heavy happiness and expectation that was in the air almost as soon as she walked into the garden.
Charon, Venus and Mars were chattering away to each other in deep excitement. Charon was listening and occasionally asking them questions while Venus and Mars did most of the talking. Universe waited and watched them for a while longer as they discussed whatever it was that they were so excited about.
Then she went up to them. "Anything up?" she asked politely.
Charon Venus and Mars all looked around and saw her for the first time. "Hi there!" Venus chirped.
"Why're the three of you so jazzed up?" Universe pressed.
"What don't you know?" Venus exclaimed with astonishment written all over her face. "IT's tomorrow!"
"What is? What're you goin on about?"
"This is the eve of the anniversary Universe." Charon explained what it was they had all been talking about so eagerly and gave a sigh of pleasure. "I've been waiting for so long for this day!"
"What anniversary?" Universe asked in frustration. "Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day of Queen Serenity's coronation as the ruler of the Moon Kingdom." Mars explained at last.
"Oh right. Geez so tomorrow's the day she became the Queen all those years ago huh?" Universe whistled and her eyes widened slightly as she thought about this. Years ago tomorrow Serenity had become the Queen of the Moon.
Thinking about this really gave Universe a sense of scope and the passing of time and many years. "Anniversary of her coronation huh?" she mused. "S'pose you all have a name for it do you?"
"That's right." Venus said eagerly hardly able to contain her excitement. "We call it 'Serenity's Queenship day'. Gosh I always look forward to that day so much! To think it only comes once a year!"
"Why?" Universe asked. "What goes on?"
"Well what happens is that the princesses (That's us!) all put on a performance!" Venus' eyes shone as she thought about it. "We all perform and entertain everybody! It's fantastic!" she sighed as she looked forward to the following day. "I just can't wait!"
"Uh-huh?" Universe muttered warily - she was very taken aback by what Venus had just said.
Perform...?
"This year will be the first time I will get to take part." Charon put in. "I'm quite looking forward to it."
"You'll be dancing right?" Mars asked with a smile.
"What else?" Venus exclaimed pretending to be shocked that Mars even needed to ask. "Charon here IS after all the most graceful dancer in the galaxy!"
Charon blushed profusely.
"Say Universe!" Venus suddenly exclaimed curiously as she wheeled on Universe. "What are YOU going to do tomorrow?"
Of all the questions that Venus could have asked and Universe had feared that one the most. "Not sure." she grunted as Charon and Mars gazed at her waiting for her reply.
"Oh come! There must be something you can do!" Charon exclaimed. "What kind of things are you good at?"
Nothing I can do before the court... Universe thought silently as she shrugged dismissively. "Not much." she said casually hoping that they'd take the hint and drop the matter.
A delusive hope.
"Oh I'm sure that's not true!" Venus said reassuringly. "Don't put yourself down like that!"
Universe growled silently - the fact was she hadn't a clue what she would do tomorrow.
Universe decided to change the subject. "Queen Serenity's been the ruler of this kingdom for such a long while." she remarked. "I really respect her for that!"
"Didn't expect to hear something like that from you! You're just full of surprises!"
Turning around they all saw Jupiter, Mercury and the Moon Princess come walking into the garden. As soon as she saw Mercury, Universe's face lit up and she gave a light toss of her hair for her to approach. Mercury went at once to her friends side without even thinking about it.
"Hey." Universe beamed leaning over and kissing Mercury on the forehead in greeting. "How are you?"
Charon noticed that Mercury did not seem to be embarrassed at all. Mercury was so used to Universe's special greeting for her that she no longer really noticed it anymore. Charon thought it was a wonderful thing that Mercury accepted Universe's affectionate gesture so willingly in front of the others.
"I'm a little tired because I was up all through the night." Mercury replied.
"Why?" Universe was surprised since she knew Mercury well enough by now to know when she slept and when she usually awoke each morning and she also noticed the slight greyness below Mercury's eyelids.
"I was busy with the poem I'm writing for tomorrow." Mercury explained her late nighter. "I'm still not finished yet."
"A poem?" Jupiter inquired.
"Yes. I'm going to recite it for the anniversary tomorrow."
"Well come on then." Universe slapped her knees. "Let's hear what you've done so far."
Mercury went deep red as the eyes of the other princesses were all directed at her. "I..." she stammered. "That is it isn't quite completed yet and I'd rather recite it when I've finished."
Universe shrugged and let it go - she was still busy with worrying about what she was going to do for the anniversary tomorrow. She just could not seem to stop thinking about it and the more she thought the more it worried her...
~*~*~
By night time Universe was still worrying about her unusual problem...what could she do for tomorrow?
The princess just could not think of a single thing she could do for Queen Serenity as she mooched aimlessly around in the deserted garden. Universe gave a worried sigh and looked up at the starry sky.
As she contemplated her problem she inevitably became lost in thought and as she gazed at the endless sky she no longer really saw it. Rolling her thoughts around inside her head like somebody sucking a piece of toffee she suddenly began to do something that she had not done for quite a long while now.
Sing.
Universe began to sing without even realising that she was doing so as her thoughts drifted like a calm stream uncaring about where she was going. Her singing voice was gentle and lovely. The song was wistful and mysterious as it echoed up into the night sky as the stars above glimmered in the velvet darkness.
As she closed her eyes and lifted her face up to the heavens she began the next part and as she did so her troubles drifted away. It was Universe's secret song. It did not have words, in fact it was merely the beauty of her voice and she alone in the galaxy knew about its existence.
Vaura had known for she had shared it with her but...
While she had still been a Star Raider Universe had always taken advantage of the very rare moments that she had been far apart from her fellow Raiders to sing. These occasions had mostly been when she had been feeling sad or excluded from their more male orientated discussions. Her song had always made her feel better about who she was somehow and it was strange and she could not have explained it but whenever she sang her special song she simply could not feel sad or lonely.
During the bitter months after Vaura's death however when she had had to make a supreme effort of will to force herself to act as though there was nothing wrong with her for the benefit of the other Raiders she had not been able to bring herself to sing.
The song was nearing its conclusion now and as it drew to the end her voice dropped in volume and took on a heartbreaking sorrow for which there was no word in existence to describe. Universe's voice was so beautiful that it seemed to be of another world. She was completely lost to the real world as she was immersed in her song and thought about nothing else.
Finally the song was done and came to an enigmatic and almost wistful end.
For several minutes after she had ceased to sing Universe stood beneath the sky, the stars shining down on her face which she held high and her eyes closed, totally taken away by the enchantment of the melody which she had just sung with such loveliness and passion. A shooting star lit up the sky as it passed overhead. Finally after what seemed to be an age or more but was in fact no more than a brief moment after the conclusion of the song Universe opened her eyes with a sigh of regret and came back to the real world.
The eyes of the purple-haired girl were tinged with sadness as she looked up into the sky but also deep down within her was a peaceful happiness which she had never felt anywhere else in the galaxy. Her unaccustomed contentment was due to the fact that she was here now in the Moon Kingdom, here with those she had come to love so well.
It was strange but Universe now knew that over the past months she had come to hold feelings of love and respect for Queen Serenity - she had no way of being absolutely sure about it, for as far as she knew she had never had one, but Universe was certain that she had come to see the Queen as an elder sister.
And Universe knew another thing; she wanted very dearly to do her best for Serenity and repay her for the kindness she had shown her and all that she had done for her.
"Oh my goodness!" a dreamy voice murmured from somewhere behind her.
As her heart leapt into her throat Universe whirled around to see who had whispered.
Princess Charon had been listening in perfect silence and intently during the song as had Estrella who had been lulled by the wonderful melody as she sat on Charon's shoulder. The kitten was now staring at Universe with wide eyes as she hoped for more.
Universe's face burned and her ears were a deep shade of red as she realised that she had had an audience.
A delighted smile adorned Charon's face as the green-haired princess clapped. "That was wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Absolutely wonderful!"
"Pretty song!" Estrella beamed. "Me like!"
Universe gaped at the Charonian overwhelmed with dismay. The way she was so close to Venus coupled with Venus' habit of rattling off everything she heard to the very next person she spoke to meant...
"Where in the world did you learn to sing like that Universe?" Charon rushed on eagerly without giving Universe time to respond. "It was incredible!"
Universe cleared her throat awkwardly. "Um Charon..." she muttered half heartedly.
"You've got to sing that song tomorrow!" the Charonian continued hardly hearing what Universe had said. "It's perfect!"
Universe cut in abruptly. "I'm not singing Charon!"
Her voice had come out harsher than she had intended it to and Charon broke off as she realised what Universe had said.
The green-haired princess stared in astonishment and disbelief at Universe. "What? But why ever not?" she cried staring at her with rapt attention. "Of course you will sing at the anniversary! You simply have to!"
"No I don't!" Universe snapped more harshly than she intended to. "I've told you Charon, I'm not going to sing tomorrow or ever for that matter! So just forget it!"
Charon gazed at her with shock and dismay in her face. She had not dreamt that Universe would react like this. Charon simply could not understand the fierce girl who stood staring at her through defiant eyes.
Charon spoke again and her voice was soft and gentle. "But why shouldn't you sing? You are so good at it Universe!"
Universe glowered at her but Charon who was watching her carefully saw the strange, almost frightened look in her eyes. "Never mind! Just forget that you heard me!" the purple-haired girl snapped. "I don't want anyone to know that I sing alright?"
"But I don't understand Universe!" Charon said earnestly as she gazed at the other girl. "Your song is so beautiful! Why don't you want anybody else to hear it?"
Estrella watched all of this feeling confused by the angry light in Universe's eyes as Charon tried to convince her to sing for Queen Serenity. Universe had sung so beautifully a moment ago so why had she become so angry when Charon had told her that she should sing at the anniversary tomorrow?
It made no sense at all...
As she saw the hurt look in Charon's eyes Universe's own eyes softened a little. "Charon listen...I'm sorry but I can't sing in front of other people." she explained and her voice was now gentler than it had been a second ago. "I wouldn't have done it just now if I'd known you were here."
"But why in the world not?" Charon persisted completely perplexed by Universe's refusal.
Universe narrowed her eyes again as the harsh light returned to them and clenched her teeth. "Because I hate singing! Singing's stupid! That's why!"
Charon stared at her blankly for she knew that this was not the truth at all. When Charon and Estrella had stood in silence and listened to Universe's song a moment ago she had never looked happier to the green-haired princess. And it had been the song that had made Universe happy. That was why Charon knew that Universe was not being honest with her...
"Where did you learn it?" Charon asked curiously ignoring Universe's glare.
Deep thoughtfulness crossed Universe's face for this was a question that had troubled her for a long while now...all her life in fact. "I really don't know." she confessed. "I haven't a clue where or when I first learned it but I've always known the melody."
They lapsed into a long and uncomfortable silence for a while.
And then Charon spoke up once more. "Universe..." she said softly and her eyes twinkled at the other girl. "Please say that you will sing tomorrow."
Universe simply gazed at her and shook her head, to her own surprise she actually felt a little regretful about this. "I'm sorry Charon but I can't." she said quietly.
Charon's eyes glistened as she looked steadily at Universe's face. "Queen Serenity would love to hear you." she said coaxingly.
Universe shook her head again -very slowly. "Charon..." she muttered but then her voice faltered, she could feel her resolve beginning to weaken in spite of herself.
Not only this but she also began to feel again her earlier longing to do her best for Queen Serenity. If Serenity would like to hear her sing...
Also she realised suddenly that she really ought to sing since she was so good at it. After all it was a lovely song and it deserved to be sung. And it would be selfish of her, she realised, to keep it all to herself and never let anybody else hear it.
Universe glanced at Charon and the Charonian princess was delighted to see that the stubborn defiance had died away from her eyes. "You really think that I should don't you?" Universe smirked.
Charon smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Why of course you should!" she exclaimed. "To be able to sing so beautifully is a lovely gift! Singing is like dancing for the voice and you are wonderful at it. Go ahead and do it Universe!"
Universe opened her mouth but still she hesitated, still not yet convinced.
"Universe..." Estrella squeaked suddenly and Universe looked down at her.
The kitten dropped lightly to her feet out of Charon's arms and scurried forward and jumped up into Universe's arms where she sat and looked up at the purple princess's face with her wide green eyes. "Universe sing!" Estrella said firmly and so it was settled.
Universe gave a huge sigh of resignation as she gave in. "Okay you two. I'll do it."
Charon's face lit up as Estrella purred delightedly and jumped back down to the floor. "Splendid!" she exclaimed as she took Universe's hands in her own. "It will be fantastic Universe! You'll see!"
The rest of the night after that passed after what seemed like an age or more as Universe worried more and more about the reception her singing would receive tomorrow. Eventually she managed to sink into an anxious sleep as she gazed drowsily up at the sky...when she woke up the big day had arrived.
At first Universe lay on the grass on her side with a sleepy smile on her face as she blinked her droopy eyelids. She had always loved the peaceful and quiet moments of the morning in between sleeping and waking. There was nothing she had to do yet and absolutely nothing for her to worry about...nothing in the whole world had anything to do with her until she had woken up.
It was a glorious feeling.
Universe gave a pleasant sigh and moved slowly and gently to rest on her other side and then wriggled her shoulders comfortably against the grass she was lying on. Something seemed to be trying to sneak into the back of her mind. There was something important she was going to do today, she realised as she looked up lazily at the star-filled sky.
This was a special day. But what could possibly be so...it all came flooding to her in massive sweeping of clarity.
Universe leapt up with a gasp of shock and her eyes were wide as she propped herself up on the grass of the garden on all fours. "Oh...holy HELL!!" she breathed in horror as she remembered.
Today was the anniversary of Queen Serenity's coronation! It was Serenity's Queenship day! The day when the princesses performed!
And now it was the day that she would sing for Queen Serenity. Universe swore to the heavens as she finally released her breath...she was going to sing today.
Her heart had begun to beat at an incredibly uncomfortable rate - once again she found herself marvelling at the way her nerves seemed to work. She had fought men and women, beasts and monsters throughout every corner of the galaxy, seen heathen-like rituals in a dark temple, heard the screams of a drowning girl, and been to a planet on which the people wore bizarre masks and claimed to have mysterious powers and now here she was shivering like a ducked cat at the mere thought of singing before Queen Serenity.
Universe was sure that she would never understand the way her mind worked. Groaning she rose to her feet as she stomped over to her dress which lay folded up on a tuft of grass.
~*~*~
"Oh there you are!" Charon exclaimed as Universe finally appeared in the parlour where she was finishing her breakfast.
Estrella looked up from where she was sitting on Charon's lap and nibbling at what the princess did not eat herself and spotted Universe standing there. "Uniiiiiveeeeerse!" she squealed.
Universe absent-mindedly patted the kitten on the back of the head. "When do we do it?" she asked Charon abruptly.
Charon looked at her in curiosity. "You seem rather tense Universe." she remarked mildly.
"No I'm not." she snapped back. "I just wanna get this done as quickly as possible. So when does it happen?"
"Venus told me that the revelries begin in the evening." Charon said softly - there was a smile on her face as she accurately predicted what Universe's reaction would be.
"Oh GREAT!!" Universe moaned as her face fell. "Perfect! Incredible! Absolutely fantastic!"
"And that is not all." Charon added smiling up at universe. "The Moon Princess will begin followed by Mercury, Mars and then Venus followed by Jupiter and then I will go up. Yours will be the closing performance Universe so you had better do your best and put everything you have into it!"
Universe groaned again and Charon gazed at her thoughtfully. "You know Universe, you shouldn't be so anxious about it." she said reprovingly. "It is meant to be fun you know! Just stop worrying about doing well and enjoy yourself as well!"
"Forget it? How CAN I?!" Universe growled. "They'll all be there watching..."
"You never sang when you were a Star Raider?" Charon asked curiously.
"Are you kidding?! of course not!" Universe spluttered. "They'd have thought I was a pussy!"
"Pardon?" Charon was confused.
Estrella stared blankly at Universe. "What wrong?" she wondered in confusion. "Kittens good!"
"Never mind..." Universe sighed as she shook her head wearily.
"Listen, like I said Universe don't think about what anybody thinks." Charon told her seriously. "Just do it for yourself as well as for Queen Serenity. She will love it and what is more so will you. You will see."
~*~*~
Later that very evening...
"Thank you very much! I appreciate your sentiments." Serenity smiled pleasantly as she waved away one of her guests who was over-complimenting her. "Please enjoy yourself tonight."
Queen Serenity took a long sweeping look around the ball room and sighed as she shook her head resignedly. Just about every member of her court and most of the hundreds of guests whom she had invited, quite a lot of who she hardly knew or as in most cases she didn't even know at all had made it.
Serenity smiled in bemusement as she gazed around at her vast array of guests. She was not even going to try to guess just how many of these friends, acquaintances and total strangers had already congratulated her tonight on the success and prosperity of her Queenship which had begun several years ago on this very night, the night of her coronation.
The queen would have rather that nobody made any fuss about her anniversary but when she had objected back on the day her advisors had first suggested it they had all insisted that there ought to be an annual celebration of her coronation as Queen every year. In the end she had eventually given in and with a resigned sigh she had waved her head dismissively and so the yearly anniversary day of her coronation had been conceived.
From that day on she had been obliged for one day of every year to submit herself to the endless stream of pleasantries and compliments on her rulership that this day entailed. She would smile and exchange pleasantries with her guests but all the time she wished that the whole day could simply be over.
Still there were good points about today for it had become a kind of tradition that each of the princesses of her court would one at a time put on a sort of entertainment for her. This was quite pleasant and well worth all of the long and uninvolving conversations that this day brought every year.
As she thought about the princesses a look of thoughtful curiosity crossed Queen Serenity's face as something that she had not considered crossed her mind. What would Universe do?
The question was quite fascinating and she found herself wondering very interestedly about what Universe was going to do tonight...
~*~*~
"Just a few minutes before we go out!" Venus giggled quite beside herself with happy excitement. "Oooh I just can't wait!"
Just as the blonde-haired princess said there was now only five minutes remaining until the settled time when the princesses would begin to head out one by one and then the entertainment would commence.
At the moment Venus was in a small room at the back of the ball room along with Mercury, Mars and the Moon Princess. Mercury had finished writing her poem the night before and although she was a little nervous she was quite ready to recite it. Estrella was also with them since Charon seemed to be somewhere else at that moment and she was just as overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation as Venus as she waited for the upcoming events. This was the first day of its kind that had come since Estrella had been born and she was loving it.
Venus stroked the kitten as she purred. "Dear little Estrella!" she laughed brightly. "You're excited as well aren't you?" Suddenly the Venusian noticed for the first time that Charon, Jupiter and Universe were all absent. "Say...does anyone know where the others are?" she asked slightly worried. "We don't have long to go now!"
"Charon noticed that Universe wasn't here so she asked Jupiter to help her find her." Mars informed her.
Mercury looked up at the mention of Universe's name. "Do any of you know if Universe has decided about what she will do tonight?" she asked.
"I don't know." Venus replied with a toss of her hair. "But I think that maybe Charon knows something about it. I noticed that she seemed to be all secretive and smiling about something to do with Universe because she kept giggling whenever I mentioned her name."
"That's right..." Mars murmured as she gazed distantly at the floor as she sat with her hands on her lap. "She doesn't normally keep secrets from the rest of us does she?"
None of the other princesses noticed that she was gazing down at the floor with a peculiar look in her eyes as she said this. There was a sombre expression on Mars' face as she thought of how close Charon seemed to be to Universe these days...
On Mercury's lap Estrella suppressed a giggle. Charon had warned her that she must not say anything to anybody about Universe's song the night before. From that moment on the kitten had concentrated on not saying anything about it all day long.
"Where can they be?!" Venus exclaimed. "We'll be heading out in a few minutes!"
At that very moment there came a shriek from outside the room. "Let go of me! I've told you I'm not doing it!" a voice howled frantically.
As the princesses all looked at each other wondering what could be happening the back door of the room suddenly flew open and in came Charon and Jupiter. And between them they dragged Universe, each with both of their arms wrapped around one of hers giving her no chance to get away. Universe was trying to tear herself free from them but both Charon and Jupiter held onto her arms tightly as they marched her in.
Mercury's eyes widened as she watched them haul Universe into the room and hold her tightly as she tried to escape. "What are you doing?!" she accused them.
"We found her hiding in an upstairs room." Charon told the others with a smile. "But she's not going to get out of this."
"I'm not doing it!" Universe screamed as she tried to throw them off but failed. "let me go! I'm not doing it!"
"You are wrong Universe! You ARE going to do it!" Charon told her with a smile. "Hold her Jupiter!"
"You bet!" Jupiter grinned as Universe squirmed in her grip - there was a vindictive pleasure on her face as she grappled with the shorter and less muscular girl. "Ungrateful little brat." She growled as she brought her mouth close to Universe' ear as she held her in a vice-like arm-lock. "After all she's done for you you're thinking of begrudging the Queen a little bit of pleasure? Think again…you're going to turn out just like the rest of us."
"Jupiter!" exclaimed the Moon Princess who looked appalled by her friends viciousness. "That is unfair!"
Jupiter just grunted while Charon flinched – she'd been hoping that by bringing Jupiter along to help her find Universe and get her to come she might be able to heal the rift that divided her between her friends…however things had deteriorated so quickly once they had tracked Universe down that she was now forced to realise that it had not been one of her greatest ideas.
"You bitch!" Universe growled as she winced and stopped struggling as Jupiter's accusation of selfishness and ingratitude hit her like a barbed arrow to the heart – a moment of uncomfortable silence passed, Mercury biting her lip as she stared at he clearly agitated friend, Venus looking distressed and Mars looking uncomfortable.
"What is it that she doesn't want to do so badly?!" Venus exclaimed as she stared at the writhing girl.
"Wait and see Venus." was all Charon would tell her.
Venus had no time to ask her again for at that very moment she realised what the time was and gasped in sheer delight. "It's TIME!!!" she shrieked and jumped up and down in joy. "It's finally time!!!"
Sure enough the time had finally arrived for the princesses to entertain Queen Serenity.
"I suppose that I ought to go first?" the Moon Princess suggested as she picked up her beautiful golden flute from the table and rose to her feet.
"Sure!" Venus smiled at her encouragingly.
"Go right ahead!" Charon agreed. "We'll all be watching you from here so you just make sure that you do your best!"
The Moon Princess smiled prettily as she walked out of the room and into the ball room. The other princesses crowded around the door to listen to her playing and Charon and Jupiter both hustled the struggling Universe along with them.
"You'll enjoy this Universe." Venus whispered. "The Moon Princess plays the flute so very well!"
Universe growled...
The Moon Princess stood tall and gracefully as straight and proud as the trunk of an ancient tree as she stood before her mother and pretended that the congregation of noblemen and women was not there so that she would not be so nervous about playing in front of them.
The Moon Princess curtsied for her mother gracefully. "Mother I would like to play my flute for you." She declared in a clear and ringing voice. "May I?"
Serenity smiled proudly at her daughter and gave her a nod of encouragement. "Why of course you may my dear." she said warmly. "Please do so."
The Moon Princess nodded and with that she raised her flute to her lips and instantly and sweet melody began to play.
Venus sighed with pleasure as she and the others all listened to the glorious and heartening melody as the Moon Princess played her flute. "She plays so beautifully!" she breathed in pleasure. "I wish that I could play the flute so well!"
Even Universe who was still held tightly had to agree that the music played by the Moon Princess was lovely beyond comparison. The melody of her flute playing was so soothing and sweet and during its duration even universe broke off struggling with her captors to listen to it. Regrettably the music finally ceased and there was applause.
"I suppose that I should go next." Mercury murmured quite nervously as she stepped forward.
"You'll do great Mercury so don't worry about it!" Venus encouraged the Mercurian.
Universe looked at her friend warmly. "Do your best sweetie!" she told her as she forgot her situation for the time being.
The Moon Princess blushed as she curtsied amidst the thunderous applause.
Serenity smiled proudly at her daughter as she leant forward to kiss her on the cheek. "That was lovely my darling." she told her daughter.
The Moon Princess smiled. "Thank you mother." She replied.
Mercury walked into the ball room looking extremely nervous and shy as she clasped her hands behind her back.
Queen Serenity smiled kindly at the blue-haired princess as she walked up to stand beside her daughter and curtsied for her. "Your majesty I have devised a poem which I would like very much to recite to you." Mercury murmured as she went deep pink. "May I?"
Queen Serenity smiled fondly at the shy girl and nodded. "Of course you may." she said warmly. "I would be honoured to listen to it Mercury."
Mercury nodded and almost anxiously she began to recite the poem that she had spent a long night and most of the previous evening on.
"I AM
I am unique and special and myself.
I wonder about life and what's to come.
I hear laughter through troubled times.
I see smiles in tears.
I want happiness and self-satisfaction.
I am unique and special and myself
I pretend to be strong and somewhere along the line
I have become what I pretended.
I feel light as a feather when I do things I enjoy.
I touch on contentment and serenity everyday.
I worry about whether I do my best.
I cry over silly things and big things alike.
I am unique and special and myself.
I understand that life goes on so we must make the best of everyday.
I say live life to its fullest because you only get this chance, this here and now.
I dream about the future, my dreams and my goals.
I try to be optimistic.
I hope to make a difference.
I am unique and special and myself."
~*~*~
Universe put the tips of her forefingers to her lips as she whistled as loudly as she could in applause to Mercury's poem. Then she remembered what was happening and Charon retightened their hold of her arms as she began struggling again.
"You are next mars!" Venus informed the raven-haired Martian who nodded in response.
"Good luck Mars!" Charon called after her as she stepped through the door.
Mars glanced back through the doorway and smiled gratefully at the Charonian. "Thanks!"
Universe's Secret
Universe felt the heavy happiness and expectation that was in the air almost as soon as she walked into the garden.
Charon, Venus and Mars were chattering away to each other in deep excitement. Charon was listening and occasionally asking them questions while Venus and Mars did most of the talking. Universe waited and watched them for a while longer as they discussed whatever it was that they were so excited about.
Then she went up to them. "Anything up?" she asked politely.
Charon Venus and Mars all looked around and saw her for the first time. "Hi there!" Venus chirped.
"Why're the three of you so jazzed up?" Universe pressed.
"What don't you know?" Venus exclaimed with astonishment written all over her face. "IT's tomorrow!"
"What is? What're you goin on about?"
"This is the eve of the anniversary Universe." Charon explained what it was they had all been talking about so eagerly and gave a sigh of pleasure. "I've been waiting for so long for this day!"
"What anniversary?" Universe asked in frustration. "Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day of Queen Serenity's coronation as the ruler of the Moon Kingdom." Mars explained at last.
"Oh right. Geez so tomorrow's the day she became the Queen all those years ago huh?" Universe whistled and her eyes widened slightly as she thought about this. Years ago tomorrow Serenity had become the Queen of the Moon.
Thinking about this really gave Universe a sense of scope and the passing of time and many years. "Anniversary of her coronation huh?" she mused. "S'pose you all have a name for it do you?"
"That's right." Venus said eagerly hardly able to contain her excitement. "We call it 'Serenity's Queenship day'. Gosh I always look forward to that day so much! To think it only comes once a year!"
"Why?" Universe asked. "What goes on?"
"Well what happens is that the princesses (That's us!) all put on a performance!" Venus' eyes shone as she thought about it. "We all perform and entertain everybody! It's fantastic!" she sighed as she looked forward to the following day. "I just can't wait!"
"Uh-huh?" Universe muttered warily - she was very taken aback by what Venus had just said.
Perform...?
"This year will be the first time I will get to take part." Charon put in. "I'm quite looking forward to it."
"You'll be dancing right?" Mars asked with a smile.
"What else?" Venus exclaimed pretending to be shocked that Mars even needed to ask. "Charon here IS after all the most graceful dancer in the galaxy!"
Charon blushed profusely.
"Say Universe!" Venus suddenly exclaimed curiously as she wheeled on Universe. "What are YOU going to do tomorrow?"
Of all the questions that Venus could have asked and Universe had feared that one the most. "Not sure." she grunted as Charon and Mars gazed at her waiting for her reply.
"Oh come! There must be something you can do!" Charon exclaimed. "What kind of things are you good at?"
Nothing I can do before the court... Universe thought silently as she shrugged dismissively. "Not much." she said casually hoping that they'd take the hint and drop the matter.
A delusive hope.
"Oh I'm sure that's not true!" Venus said reassuringly. "Don't put yourself down like that!"
Universe growled silently - the fact was she hadn't a clue what she would do tomorrow.
Universe decided to change the subject. "Queen Serenity's been the ruler of this kingdom for such a long while." she remarked. "I really respect her for that!"
"Didn't expect to hear something like that from you! You're just full of surprises!"
Turning around they all saw Jupiter, Mercury and the Moon Princess come walking into the garden. As soon as she saw Mercury, Universe's face lit up and she gave a light toss of her hair for her to approach. Mercury went at once to her friends side without even thinking about it.
"Hey." Universe beamed leaning over and kissing Mercury on the forehead in greeting. "How are you?"
Charon noticed that Mercury did not seem to be embarrassed at all. Mercury was so used to Universe's special greeting for her that she no longer really noticed it anymore. Charon thought it was a wonderful thing that Mercury accepted Universe's affectionate gesture so willingly in front of the others.
"I'm a little tired because I was up all through the night." Mercury replied.
"Why?" Universe was surprised since she knew Mercury well enough by now to know when she slept and when she usually awoke each morning and she also noticed the slight greyness below Mercury's eyelids.
"I was busy with the poem I'm writing for tomorrow." Mercury explained her late nighter. "I'm still not finished yet."
"A poem?" Jupiter inquired.
"Yes. I'm going to recite it for the anniversary tomorrow."
"Well come on then." Universe slapped her knees. "Let's hear what you've done so far."
Mercury went deep red as the eyes of the other princesses were all directed at her. "I..." she stammered. "That is it isn't quite completed yet and I'd rather recite it when I've finished."
Universe shrugged and let it go - she was still busy with worrying about what she was going to do for the anniversary tomorrow. She just could not seem to stop thinking about it and the more she thought the more it worried her...
~*~*~
By night time Universe was still worrying about her unusual problem...what could she do for tomorrow?
The princess just could not think of a single thing she could do for Queen Serenity as she mooched aimlessly around in the deserted garden. Universe gave a worried sigh and looked up at the starry sky.
As she contemplated her problem she inevitably became lost in thought and as she gazed at the endless sky she no longer really saw it. Rolling her thoughts around inside her head like somebody sucking a piece of toffee she suddenly began to do something that she had not done for quite a long while now.
Sing.
Universe began to sing without even realising that she was doing so as her thoughts drifted like a calm stream uncaring about where she was going. Her singing voice was gentle and lovely. The song was wistful and mysterious as it echoed up into the night sky as the stars above glimmered in the velvet darkness.
As she closed her eyes and lifted her face up to the heavens she began the next part and as she did so her troubles drifted away. It was Universe's secret song. It did not have words, in fact it was merely the beauty of her voice and she alone in the galaxy knew about its existence.
Vaura had known for she had shared it with her but...
While she had still been a Star Raider Universe had always taken advantage of the very rare moments that she had been far apart from her fellow Raiders to sing. These occasions had mostly been when she had been feeling sad or excluded from their more male orientated discussions. Her song had always made her feel better about who she was somehow and it was strange and she could not have explained it but whenever she sang her special song she simply could not feel sad or lonely.
During the bitter months after Vaura's death however when she had had to make a supreme effort of will to force herself to act as though there was nothing wrong with her for the benefit of the other Raiders she had not been able to bring herself to sing.
The song was nearing its conclusion now and as it drew to the end her voice dropped in volume and took on a heartbreaking sorrow for which there was no word in existence to describe. Universe's voice was so beautiful that it seemed to be of another world. She was completely lost to the real world as she was immersed in her song and thought about nothing else.
Finally the song was done and came to an enigmatic and almost wistful end.
For several minutes after she had ceased to sing Universe stood beneath the sky, the stars shining down on her face which she held high and her eyes closed, totally taken away by the enchantment of the melody which she had just sung with such loveliness and passion. A shooting star lit up the sky as it passed overhead. Finally after what seemed to be an age or more but was in fact no more than a brief moment after the conclusion of the song Universe opened her eyes with a sigh of regret and came back to the real world.
The eyes of the purple-haired girl were tinged with sadness as she looked up into the sky but also deep down within her was a peaceful happiness which she had never felt anywhere else in the galaxy. Her unaccustomed contentment was due to the fact that she was here now in the Moon Kingdom, here with those she had come to love so well.
It was strange but Universe now knew that over the past months she had come to hold feelings of love and respect for Queen Serenity - she had no way of being absolutely sure about it, for as far as she knew she had never had one, but Universe was certain that she had come to see the Queen as an elder sister.
And Universe knew another thing; she wanted very dearly to do her best for Serenity and repay her for the kindness she had shown her and all that she had done for her.
"Oh my goodness!" a dreamy voice murmured from somewhere behind her.
As her heart leapt into her throat Universe whirled around to see who had whispered.
Princess Charon had been listening in perfect silence and intently during the song as had Estrella who had been lulled by the wonderful melody as she sat on Charon's shoulder. The kitten was now staring at Universe with wide eyes as she hoped for more.
Universe's face burned and her ears were a deep shade of red as she realised that she had had an audience.
A delighted smile adorned Charon's face as the green-haired princess clapped. "That was wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Absolutely wonderful!"
"Pretty song!" Estrella beamed. "Me like!"
Universe gaped at the Charonian overwhelmed with dismay. The way she was so close to Venus coupled with Venus' habit of rattling off everything she heard to the very next person she spoke to meant...
"Where in the world did you learn to sing like that Universe?" Charon rushed on eagerly without giving Universe time to respond. "It was incredible!"
Universe cleared her throat awkwardly. "Um Charon..." she muttered half heartedly.
"You've got to sing that song tomorrow!" the Charonian continued hardly hearing what Universe had said. "It's perfect!"
Universe cut in abruptly. "I'm not singing Charon!"
Her voice had come out harsher than she had intended it to and Charon broke off as she realised what Universe had said.
The green-haired princess stared in astonishment and disbelief at Universe. "What? But why ever not?" she cried staring at her with rapt attention. "Of course you will sing at the anniversary! You simply have to!"
"No I don't!" Universe snapped more harshly than she intended to. "I've told you Charon, I'm not going to sing tomorrow or ever for that matter! So just forget it!"
Charon gazed at her with shock and dismay in her face. She had not dreamt that Universe would react like this. Charon simply could not understand the fierce girl who stood staring at her through defiant eyes.
Charon spoke again and her voice was soft and gentle. "But why shouldn't you sing? You are so good at it Universe!"
Universe glowered at her but Charon who was watching her carefully saw the strange, almost frightened look in her eyes. "Never mind! Just forget that you heard me!" the purple-haired girl snapped. "I don't want anyone to know that I sing alright?"
"But I don't understand Universe!" Charon said earnestly as she gazed at the other girl. "Your song is so beautiful! Why don't you want anybody else to hear it?"
Estrella watched all of this feeling confused by the angry light in Universe's eyes as Charon tried to convince her to sing for Queen Serenity. Universe had sung so beautifully a moment ago so why had she become so angry when Charon had told her that she should sing at the anniversary tomorrow?
It made no sense at all...
As she saw the hurt look in Charon's eyes Universe's own eyes softened a little. "Charon listen...I'm sorry but I can't sing in front of other people." she explained and her voice was now gentler than it had been a second ago. "I wouldn't have done it just now if I'd known you were here."
"But why in the world not?" Charon persisted completely perplexed by Universe's refusal.
Universe narrowed her eyes again as the harsh light returned to them and clenched her teeth. "Because I hate singing! Singing's stupid! That's why!"
Charon stared at her blankly for she knew that this was not the truth at all. When Charon and Estrella had stood in silence and listened to Universe's song a moment ago she had never looked happier to the green-haired princess. And it had been the song that had made Universe happy. That was why Charon knew that Universe was not being honest with her...
"Where did you learn it?" Charon asked curiously ignoring Universe's glare.
Deep thoughtfulness crossed Universe's face for this was a question that had troubled her for a long while now...all her life in fact. "I really don't know." she confessed. "I haven't a clue where or when I first learned it but I've always known the melody."
They lapsed into a long and uncomfortable silence for a while.
And then Charon spoke up once more. "Universe..." she said softly and her eyes twinkled at the other girl. "Please say that you will sing tomorrow."
Universe simply gazed at her and shook her head, to her own surprise she actually felt a little regretful about this. "I'm sorry Charon but I can't." she said quietly.
Charon's eyes glistened as she looked steadily at Universe's face. "Queen Serenity would love to hear you." she said coaxingly.
Universe shook her head again -very slowly. "Charon..." she muttered but then her voice faltered, she could feel her resolve beginning to weaken in spite of herself.
Not only this but she also began to feel again her earlier longing to do her best for Queen Serenity. If Serenity would like to hear her sing...
Also she realised suddenly that she really ought to sing since she was so good at it. After all it was a lovely song and it deserved to be sung. And it would be selfish of her, she realised, to keep it all to herself and never let anybody else hear it.
Universe glanced at Charon and the Charonian princess was delighted to see that the stubborn defiance had died away from her eyes. "You really think that I should don't you?" Universe smirked.
Charon smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Why of course you should!" she exclaimed. "To be able to sing so beautifully is a lovely gift! Singing is like dancing for the voice and you are wonderful at it. Go ahead and do it Universe!"
Universe opened her mouth but still she hesitated, still not yet convinced.
"Universe..." Estrella squeaked suddenly and Universe looked down at her.
The kitten dropped lightly to her feet out of Charon's arms and scurried forward and jumped up into Universe's arms where she sat and looked up at the purple princess's face with her wide green eyes. "Universe sing!" Estrella said firmly and so it was settled.
Universe gave a huge sigh of resignation as she gave in. "Okay you two. I'll do it."
Charon's face lit up as Estrella purred delightedly and jumped back down to the floor. "Splendid!" she exclaimed as she took Universe's hands in her own. "It will be fantastic Universe! You'll see!"
The rest of the night after that passed after what seemed like an age or more as Universe worried more and more about the reception her singing would receive tomorrow. Eventually she managed to sink into an anxious sleep as she gazed drowsily up at the sky...when she woke up the big day had arrived.
At first Universe lay on the grass on her side with a sleepy smile on her face as she blinked her droopy eyelids. She had always loved the peaceful and quiet moments of the morning in between sleeping and waking. There was nothing she had to do yet and absolutely nothing for her to worry about...nothing in the whole world had anything to do with her until she had woken up.
It was a glorious feeling.
Universe gave a pleasant sigh and moved slowly and gently to rest on her other side and then wriggled her shoulders comfortably against the grass she was lying on. Something seemed to be trying to sneak into the back of her mind. There was something important she was going to do today, she realised as she looked up lazily at the star-filled sky.
This was a special day. But what could possibly be so...it all came flooding to her in massive sweeping of clarity.
Universe leapt up with a gasp of shock and her eyes were wide as she propped herself up on the grass of the garden on all fours. "Oh...holy HELL!!" she breathed in horror as she remembered.
Today was the anniversary of Queen Serenity's coronation! It was Serenity's Queenship day! The day when the princesses performed!
And now it was the day that she would sing for Queen Serenity. Universe swore to the heavens as she finally released her breath...she was going to sing today.
Her heart had begun to beat at an incredibly uncomfortable rate - once again she found herself marvelling at the way her nerves seemed to work. She had fought men and women, beasts and monsters throughout every corner of the galaxy, seen heathen-like rituals in a dark temple, heard the screams of a drowning girl, and been to a planet on which the people wore bizarre masks and claimed to have mysterious powers and now here she was shivering like a ducked cat at the mere thought of singing before Queen Serenity.
Universe was sure that she would never understand the way her mind worked. Groaning she rose to her feet as she stomped over to her dress which lay folded up on a tuft of grass.
~*~*~
"Oh there you are!" Charon exclaimed as Universe finally appeared in the parlour where she was finishing her breakfast.
Estrella looked up from where she was sitting on Charon's lap and nibbling at what the princess did not eat herself and spotted Universe standing there. "Uniiiiiveeeeerse!" she squealed.
Universe absent-mindedly patted the kitten on the back of the head. "When do we do it?" she asked Charon abruptly.
Charon looked at her in curiosity. "You seem rather tense Universe." she remarked mildly.
"No I'm not." she snapped back. "I just wanna get this done as quickly as possible. So when does it happen?"
"Venus told me that the revelries begin in the evening." Charon said softly - there was a smile on her face as she accurately predicted what Universe's reaction would be.
"Oh GREAT!!" Universe moaned as her face fell. "Perfect! Incredible! Absolutely fantastic!"
"And that is not all." Charon added smiling up at universe. "The Moon Princess will begin followed by Mercury, Mars and then Venus followed by Jupiter and then I will go up. Yours will be the closing performance Universe so you had better do your best and put everything you have into it!"
Universe groaned again and Charon gazed at her thoughtfully. "You know Universe, you shouldn't be so anxious about it." she said reprovingly. "It is meant to be fun you know! Just stop worrying about doing well and enjoy yourself as well!"
"Forget it? How CAN I?!" Universe growled. "They'll all be there watching..."
"You never sang when you were a Star Raider?" Charon asked curiously.
"Are you kidding?! of course not!" Universe spluttered. "They'd have thought I was a pussy!"
"Pardon?" Charon was confused.
Estrella stared blankly at Universe. "What wrong?" she wondered in confusion. "Kittens good!"
"Never mind..." Universe sighed as she shook her head wearily.
"Listen, like I said Universe don't think about what anybody thinks." Charon told her seriously. "Just do it for yourself as well as for Queen Serenity. She will love it and what is more so will you. You will see."
~*~*~
Later that very evening...
"Thank you very much! I appreciate your sentiments." Serenity smiled pleasantly as she waved away one of her guests who was over-complimenting her. "Please enjoy yourself tonight."
Queen Serenity took a long sweeping look around the ball room and sighed as she shook her head resignedly. Just about every member of her court and most of the hundreds of guests whom she had invited, quite a lot of who she hardly knew or as in most cases she didn't even know at all had made it.
Serenity smiled in bemusement as she gazed around at her vast array of guests. She was not even going to try to guess just how many of these friends, acquaintances and total strangers had already congratulated her tonight on the success and prosperity of her Queenship which had begun several years ago on this very night, the night of her coronation.
The queen would have rather that nobody made any fuss about her anniversary but when she had objected back on the day her advisors had first suggested it they had all insisted that there ought to be an annual celebration of her coronation as Queen every year. In the end she had eventually given in and with a resigned sigh she had waved her head dismissively and so the yearly anniversary day of her coronation had been conceived.
From that day on she had been obliged for one day of every year to submit herself to the endless stream of pleasantries and compliments on her rulership that this day entailed. She would smile and exchange pleasantries with her guests but all the time she wished that the whole day could simply be over.
Still there were good points about today for it had become a kind of tradition that each of the princesses of her court would one at a time put on a sort of entertainment for her. This was quite pleasant and well worth all of the long and uninvolving conversations that this day brought every year.
As she thought about the princesses a look of thoughtful curiosity crossed Queen Serenity's face as something that she had not considered crossed her mind. What would Universe do?
The question was quite fascinating and she found herself wondering very interestedly about what Universe was going to do tonight...
~*~*~
"Just a few minutes before we go out!" Venus giggled quite beside herself with happy excitement. "Oooh I just can't wait!"
Just as the blonde-haired princess said there was now only five minutes remaining until the settled time when the princesses would begin to head out one by one and then the entertainment would commence.
At the moment Venus was in a small room at the back of the ball room along with Mercury, Mars and the Moon Princess. Mercury had finished writing her poem the night before and although she was a little nervous she was quite ready to recite it. Estrella was also with them since Charon seemed to be somewhere else at that moment and she was just as overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation as Venus as she waited for the upcoming events. This was the first day of its kind that had come since Estrella had been born and she was loving it.
Venus stroked the kitten as she purred. "Dear little Estrella!" she laughed brightly. "You're excited as well aren't you?" Suddenly the Venusian noticed for the first time that Charon, Jupiter and Universe were all absent. "Say...does anyone know where the others are?" she asked slightly worried. "We don't have long to go now!"
"Charon noticed that Universe wasn't here so she asked Jupiter to help her find her." Mars informed her.
Mercury looked up at the mention of Universe's name. "Do any of you know if Universe has decided about what she will do tonight?" she asked.
"I don't know." Venus replied with a toss of her hair. "But I think that maybe Charon knows something about it. I noticed that she seemed to be all secretive and smiling about something to do with Universe because she kept giggling whenever I mentioned her name."
"That's right..." Mars murmured as she gazed distantly at the floor as she sat with her hands on her lap. "She doesn't normally keep secrets from the rest of us does she?"
None of the other princesses noticed that she was gazing down at the floor with a peculiar look in her eyes as she said this. There was a sombre expression on Mars' face as she thought of how close Charon seemed to be to Universe these days...
On Mercury's lap Estrella suppressed a giggle. Charon had warned her that she must not say anything to anybody about Universe's song the night before. From that moment on the kitten had concentrated on not saying anything about it all day long.
"Where can they be?!" Venus exclaimed. "We'll be heading out in a few minutes!"
At that very moment there came a shriek from outside the room. "Let go of me! I've told you I'm not doing it!" a voice howled frantically.
As the princesses all looked at each other wondering what could be happening the back door of the room suddenly flew open and in came Charon and Jupiter. And between them they dragged Universe, each with both of their arms wrapped around one of hers giving her no chance to get away. Universe was trying to tear herself free from them but both Charon and Jupiter held onto her arms tightly as they marched her in.
Mercury's eyes widened as she watched them haul Universe into the room and hold her tightly as she tried to escape. "What are you doing?!" she accused them.
"We found her hiding in an upstairs room." Charon told the others with a smile. "But she's not going to get out of this."
"I'm not doing it!" Universe screamed as she tried to throw them off but failed. "let me go! I'm not doing it!"
"You are wrong Universe! You ARE going to do it!" Charon told her with a smile. "Hold her Jupiter!"
"You bet!" Jupiter grinned as Universe squirmed in her grip - there was a vindictive pleasure on her face as she grappled with the shorter and less muscular girl. "Ungrateful little brat." She growled as she brought her mouth close to Universe' ear as she held her in a vice-like arm-lock. "After all she's done for you you're thinking of begrudging the Queen a little bit of pleasure? Think again…you're going to turn out just like the rest of us."
"Jupiter!" exclaimed the Moon Princess who looked appalled by her friends viciousness. "That is unfair!"
Jupiter just grunted while Charon flinched – she'd been hoping that by bringing Jupiter along to help her find Universe and get her to come she might be able to heal the rift that divided her between her friends…however things had deteriorated so quickly once they had tracked Universe down that she was now forced to realise that it had not been one of her greatest ideas.
"You bitch!" Universe growled as she winced and stopped struggling as Jupiter's accusation of selfishness and ingratitude hit her like a barbed arrow to the heart – a moment of uncomfortable silence passed, Mercury biting her lip as she stared at he clearly agitated friend, Venus looking distressed and Mars looking uncomfortable.
"What is it that she doesn't want to do so badly?!" Venus exclaimed as she stared at the writhing girl.
"Wait and see Venus." was all Charon would tell her.
Venus had no time to ask her again for at that very moment she realised what the time was and gasped in sheer delight. "It's TIME!!!" she shrieked and jumped up and down in joy. "It's finally time!!!"
Sure enough the time had finally arrived for the princesses to entertain Queen Serenity.
"I suppose that I ought to go first?" the Moon Princess suggested as she picked up her beautiful golden flute from the table and rose to her feet.
"Sure!" Venus smiled at her encouragingly.
"Go right ahead!" Charon agreed. "We'll all be watching you from here so you just make sure that you do your best!"
The Moon Princess smiled prettily as she walked out of the room and into the ball room. The other princesses crowded around the door to listen to her playing and Charon and Jupiter both hustled the struggling Universe along with them.
"You'll enjoy this Universe." Venus whispered. "The Moon Princess plays the flute so very well!"
Universe growled...
The Moon Princess stood tall and gracefully as straight and proud as the trunk of an ancient tree as she stood before her mother and pretended that the congregation of noblemen and women was not there so that she would not be so nervous about playing in front of them.
The Moon Princess curtsied for her mother gracefully. "Mother I would like to play my flute for you." She declared in a clear and ringing voice. "May I?"
Serenity smiled proudly at her daughter and gave her a nod of encouragement. "Why of course you may my dear." she said warmly. "Please do so."
The Moon Princess nodded and with that she raised her flute to her lips and instantly and sweet melody began to play.
Venus sighed with pleasure as she and the others all listened to the glorious and heartening melody as the Moon Princess played her flute. "She plays so beautifully!" she breathed in pleasure. "I wish that I could play the flute so well!"
Even Universe who was still held tightly had to agree that the music played by the Moon Princess was lovely beyond comparison. The melody of her flute playing was so soothing and sweet and during its duration even universe broke off struggling with her captors to listen to it. Regrettably the music finally ceased and there was applause.
"I suppose that I should go next." Mercury murmured quite nervously as she stepped forward.
"You'll do great Mercury so don't worry about it!" Venus encouraged the Mercurian.
Universe looked at her friend warmly. "Do your best sweetie!" she told her as she forgot her situation for the time being.
The Moon Princess blushed as she curtsied amidst the thunderous applause.
Serenity smiled proudly at her daughter as she leant forward to kiss her on the cheek. "That was lovely my darling." she told her daughter.
The Moon Princess smiled. "Thank you mother." She replied.
Mercury walked into the ball room looking extremely nervous and shy as she clasped her hands behind her back.
Queen Serenity smiled kindly at the blue-haired princess as she walked up to stand beside her daughter and curtsied for her. "Your majesty I have devised a poem which I would like very much to recite to you." Mercury murmured as she went deep pink. "May I?"
Queen Serenity smiled fondly at the shy girl and nodded. "Of course you may." she said warmly. "I would be honoured to listen to it Mercury."
Mercury nodded and almost anxiously she began to recite the poem that she had spent a long night and most of the previous evening on.
"I AM
I am unique and special and myself.
I wonder about life and what's to come.
I hear laughter through troubled times.
I see smiles in tears.
I want happiness and self-satisfaction.
I am unique and special and myself
I pretend to be strong and somewhere along the line
I have become what I pretended.
I feel light as a feather when I do things I enjoy.
I touch on contentment and serenity everyday.
I worry about whether I do my best.
I cry over silly things and big things alike.
I am unique and special and myself.
I understand that life goes on so we must make the best of everyday.
I say live life to its fullest because you only get this chance, this here and now.
I dream about the future, my dreams and my goals.
I try to be optimistic.
I hope to make a difference.
I am unique and special and myself."
~*~*~
Universe put the tips of her forefingers to her lips as she whistled as loudly as she could in applause to Mercury's poem. Then she remembered what was happening and Charon retightened their hold of her arms as she began struggling again.
"You are next mars!" Venus informed the raven-haired Martian who nodded in response.
"Good luck Mars!" Charon called after her as she stepped through the door.
Mars glanced back through the doorway and smiled gratefully at the Charonian. "Thanks!"