Chapter Twenty-One
The Only Way Out
It did not take Queen Serenity long to find the place where Universe had hidden herself after that night's incident. Serenity knew her well enough by this time to realise at once where she would run to if she wanted to keep out of sight and be on her own.
As soon as she had gotten the chance to leave the Throne Room the Queen had instinctively made her way back to the dressing room where Universe had been groomed and re-clothed when she had first arrived. The Queen felt terribly afraid of what Universe might do now that her secret had been revealed and soon would become common knowledge - she knew that she must find her at once and talk with her, reassure her that everything was going to be just fine. That even though many things that could not be helped had been changed tonight nothing important had changed at all.
As she peered into the room Serenity found that her guess had been quite correct. She had found Universe sitting in the pitched darkness of the unlit room hugging her knees to her chest. The girl was slumped to the floor with her head bowed and she made no reaction at all as the light from the outside corridor streamed into the room as Serenity looked down and saw her there.
Serenity felt as if her heart was torn by the broken and forlorn appearance of Universe as she sat there like an animal that had been kicked into a corner and left to cower there all on it's own. "Universe?" she greeted her purple-haired charge softly as she gazed at her through compassionate eyes.
Universe slowly tilted her head up. The expression etched on her sombre face was one of terrible and desolate hopelessness as she looked up at the Queen of the Moon and blinked slightly in the new light streaming in through the doorway. "Hey." she greeted her in a voice that sounded as dead as she felt.
Serenity walked further into the room closing the door behind her so that the two of them could have some privacy. "How are you feeling?" she asked tenderly as she put a light on even though she understood how Universe must feel at that moment.
Until then Universe had been determined not show any sign of weakness but as soon as she was asked this, her natural defences crumbled beneath the weight of her misery and her face fell. "Why the hell did he do that?!!" she wailed as she hugged her knees so tightly that she almost crushed her ribs and buried her face in her lap. "What did I ever do to him?"
Serenity went over to Universe and put a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder as she knelt by her side. "I do not know." There was great sadness in her face as she looked sympathetically at the quaking girl. "Cruelty is humanity's worst trait of all Universe."
"It's not fair…" Universe whimpered as she began to sob softly but violently so that her body shook with each one even though she tried to stop.
"I know." Serenity ran her hand gently along Universe's shoulder as she tried to think of the words to comfort her. "I am truly sorry that this has happened Universe but I promise you…"
The Queen got no further for as she realised what she was going to say Universe's head whipped up as though stung by a vicious insect and she stared at her in disbelief. "Don't tell me that it'll be okay!" she exclaimed and her voice was stricken. "Whatever you're gonna say, don't tell me that! How can it EVER be okay now that they know…what I am?"
"Don't worry." The Queen began in a soothing voice. "I won't let anyone treat you any differently…"
"You can't change what they think about me!" Universe responded miserably.
Serenity closed her eyes for a moment for she knew that Universe was right. The Queen was distraught herself to see the girl so upset and afraid - and for the first time in her life she found herself at a complete loss for what to do and say to make things better.
"This was bound to happen sooner or later!" Universe went on bitterly when Serenity did not reply.
"Not necessarily." Serenity replied quietly and opened her eyes. "Oh Universe…how could you do that?" she sighed and shook her head reproachfully. "Couldn't you have restrained yourself?"
Universe gazed blankly at her, unable to register what she was hearing. "H-huh?" she stammered. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that there is a time and a place for confrontation and that was neither." Serenity explained a little sternly as she gazed disapprovingly at the Princess. "I know that what he said was appalling but it was silly of you to lose your temper and let him goad you like that."
"I…I can't believe this!" Universe gasped as she stared at the Queen in disbelief. "Are you saying that it's all my fault? I was standing up for my friend! How can you find fault with that after what HE did?!!"
Queen Serenity's eyes softened as she gazed compassionately at the distraught girl for her plea had brought back a memory to her from her own youth. "No, no." she sighed gently as she stroked Universe's shoulder again to calm and reassure her. " Not at all. I am sorry Universe. I should not have said that. I know exactly how you felt…I understand what you are going through now."
Universe's eyes gazed at Queen Serenity and they seemed to become clearer as she thought and put several things together in her mind. "Have you ever met Mu before tonight?" she suddenly asked.
Serenity's face became startled as she gazed at Universe and saw the alert look on her face…then she sighed once more and nodded her head. "Yes." She admitted quietly and lowered her eyes.
Universe watched her intently as she fell silent as though she were thinking deeply about something…or rather remembering something that had happened long ago. "Well?" she pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop now that she had taken it up.
"Well…?" Queen Serenity repeated mildly, her eyes still gazing away from Universe's questioning face.
"Tell me about it." Universe asked simply.
Queen Serenity raised her eyes again slowly and her face was calm but also reluctant as she met Universe's expectant gaze. "Universe…" she began gently.
"Tell me!" Universe insisted.
Queen Serenity gazed silently at the stubborn Princess for a few minutes and then she sighed once more as she decided to give Universe what she wished - after all it was the least she could do after the deep hurt the girl had suffered tonight. "Very well." The Lunarian Queen said and lightly slid her arm around Universe's shoulders to draw her close to herself before she began to tell her story…
It had happened on a night that had taken place during Serenity's raven youth.
The night had been one of breath-taking beauty for the stars had been clear in the velvety blue sky as their vast constellations had shimmered like the surface of a lake filled with crystals.
The sky had been a wonderful vision and neither her imagination nor any of her fantastic dreams could ever have equalled it and as she had looked up in awe her excitement had welled up inside her as a thrilling rush.
Serenity - or rather Princess Serenity as she had been before she had assumed the Queenship of the Lunar Moon - had not been excited by the prospect of the Ball she had come to, nor even the many and varied noblemen she was sure she would be obliged to introduce herself to and smile pleasantly while they told her who they were.
No the Moon Princess's joy to be here came from another source. The true reason for Serenity's eagerness to agree to attend this glamorous event that had been arranged in celebration of the dawning of the Silver Millennium - an age that promised to be the most mutually peaceful and prosperous age for the entire universe to date - had been because the day before she had received a letter from her dearest friend Princess Chara.
Serenity had eagerly opened the letter for her heart was gladdened that she had received word from her beloved friend - as she had run her lilac eyes across Chara's elegant and beautiful handwriting she had filled with excitement.
Chara's letter had told her to expect to see her on the night of the Ball and that at the very moment that she had written the letter she hoped to see her there too. Serenity's delicate hands had trembled as she held the piece of crisp white paper to her chest, she felt happy at the thought of seeing Princess Chara again…
Ever since they had first met on her relationship-building visit to Pluto they had formed a friendship so pure and uncomplicated that after that day the Princesses had been closer to nobody else.
Though they had been separated time and time again their thoughts had always been with one another as if their hearts had been one, beating in harmony - the very love they shared being the life blood it commanded.
No matter where she was and what she was doing Serenity always thought of her friend who was absent from her life and now after many months they were finally going to see each other again.
Serenity's lilac eyes swept the almost full Ballroom with a searching glance. The Lunarian Princess was already looking for Chara, trying to pick her out among the many dancing couples and noblemen and ladies…
There was just the tiniest hint of a frown on the Moon Princess's face as she tried to find her friend amidst the vast and assorted gathering of Royalty, nobility and certain others in the hall.
Where could Chara be…?
"You must be sillier than a Seora if you think that you can find me like that Serenity." A voice breathed in her ear sweetly as a gentle pair of hands came to rest on her shoulder.
With a gasp of surprise Princess Serenity looked over her bare shoulder and met the pair of deep brown eyes that had been watching her from the very moment she had stepped into the Ballroom.
Princess Chara's face was split by a bubbly grin as she gazed at her fellow Moon Princess for the first time in four months. Chara had made certain that she had arrived several minutes before Serenity so that she would have plenty of time to immerse herself in the crowds of people who had come from every corner of the universe to celebrate the dawning of the Silver Millennium.
As she had stood in hiding in the middle of a group of women from Venus who had been eagerly discussing their ideal men Chara had kept her watchful eyes on the pair of tall white double-doors on the far side of the vast room so that she would see her friend the very moment that she arrived.
While Serenity had been gazing around the magnificent room trying to find her Chara had smiled secretly and her brown eyes had twinkled with mischief at the thought of surprising her friend…quickly excusing herself from the Venusians who she had left behind huffing in indignation at her sudden departure (It had been her turn to tell them about her own perfect version of a suitor.) she had quickly darted around the width of the hall making sure that as she moved she remained hidden from sight by the many people until she had arrived behind Serenity who had still been gazing around trying to find her.
Serenity had not thought of looking behind her and so she had easily been able to walk up to her friend and whisper affectionately in her ear as she had put her hands on her fellow Princess's shoulders.
Serenity's eyes widened as she found herself gazing into Chara's and the moment that she realised that she was gazing at her friend again they shone like a pair of polished sapphires. "Chara I can't believe that you're here!!" she shrieked joyfully as they flung their arms around each other. "It's been so long…I could hardly believe that it was you just now!"
Chara laughed and to Serenity's ears her lovely voice was as clear and fresh as a river. "You don't believe that I'm really me?" she teased. "Then pray allow me to prove it!"
Serenity knew at once what she meant and almost instinctively she raised her hand and reached out with her palm facing outward. Chara did the very same thing and as they pressed their palms together the Princesses from the inner and outer galaxies completed their personal greeting.
"Well then?" Chara asked as their hands parted again. "What's the verdict? Am I really me or would you like a little more time to make up your mind?"
Serenity just gave a happy laugh. "Of course I know that you're you silly! I should know my best friend when I see her by now!"
"Well that's nice to know." Chara replied cheerfully. "I saw you looking for me when you arrived Serenity…did you like my little surprise?"
"I should have known what you had planned!" Serenity sighed shaking her head as she pretended to be resigned while all the time she was really fighting to keep herself from laughing. "You've always teased me since the day we met!"
"Does it upset you?" Chara asked and though she was grinning her voice now contained a slightly worried tone that the other Princess caught.
Princess Serenity stroked the back of her friend's head. "Of course it doesn't." she reassured the green-haired girl affectionately as she smiled and they both drew apart to look intently at each other. "I would not have it any other way. You know how I feel Chara and it's that feeling which makes us friends."
Chara's eyes twinkled and for a fleeting moment Serenity caught a glint of relief in them. Now that she was in full view Serenity looked at the dress that her friend was wearing and to her delight it was azure in colour and caught the bright light of the crystal chandeliers and turned the orange glow into an aura of pale blue which seemed to surround her like a heavenly glow.
Serenity was just so enchanted by it all - the warmth and glamour of the Ballroom, the giddiness of the butterflies in her stomach but most of all by the beauty of her friend who she had not seen for a long while. "Oh Chara…" she beamed. "I…I just don't know what to say…"
Chara's eyes were deep and her smile warm and affectionate. "That's disappointing! I spent the whole of my trip here wondering what you'd been planning to say when you saw me again!" she chuckled.
Serenity's smile became a little shy as she regarded Chara thoughtfully. "Well then…what were you thinking that I would say?" she murmured raising her eyebrows questioningly.
"Well I was expecting something like 'Goodness Chara you look even lovelier than you did the last time we met' but I suppose that I can make do with 'I can't believe you're here'." Chara grinned as her eyes laughed.
"Chara…" Serenity said slowly and a slightly annoyed expression crossed her face now. "Why did you take so long to get back in touch me with? What have you been doing since we last saw each other that can have taken up all of your time?"
Chara grinned at the sight of the frown on her friends face. "Oh very much indeed Serenity!" she exclaimed with a laugh. "You're right, I have been extremely busy after our last visit…and the reason I was so insistent that you come here tonight was so that you should finally know what it was that took up most of my days. After all I don't want you to feel as if I were leaving my friend out of the most wonderful change in my life!"
Embarrassed that Chara had guessed what had been on her mind Serenity grinned as she blushed. "It can't be that drastic a change!"
"You'll see! I have the most wonderful surprise for you to meet…"
Serenity thought about that – to MEET?
Then Princess Serenity simply smiled and felt happy to be with her best friend, the Princess of Pluto again - the two of them would deal with any changes in their lives as they found them or as the changes found THEM. "Chara…" she began and took her time as she enjoyed saying the name when it's owner was right there with her. "…I…"
"Good evening ladies." A smooth voiced purred treacly from behind them, interrupting their wonderful moment. "How are you both?"
The voice was smooth and clear but to both the Princesses it sounded as if the polished quality of it served only to mark the presence of a deeper undercurrent of nastiness.
The voice was unpleasant and almost made their stomachs turn but for some reason that neither of them understood they both turned around to face the person who had spoken to them - the young man who met their eyes with his own narrowed into cat-like slits had shoulder length hair that shone like strands of gold. He wore a milk-white tunic with a shoulder-padded silver cloak that shimmered in the candlelight.
The eyes of the young man seemed to contain the glint of gold and it might have been Chara's imagination but she was sure that whenever they caught the glow of the chandeliers his eyes glowed as if their pupils actually were made of gold.
As his eyes met her own Chara felt an involuntary shudder run through her although she quickly remembered her manners and hid it.
"Good evening." Serenity replied to the young man's greeting with great politeness but her friend noticed that her usual sweetness and charm had suddenly left her voice.
"How do you do?" Chara inquired as pleasantly as she could as she stood feeling immensely uncomfortable and awkward.
How rude this young man had been interrupting them in the middle of their private conversation…
The young man did not seem to think that the fact that he had disrupted their personal moment together mattered. "I can tell that I'm not as well as the both of you, your highnesses." He remarked with a suggestive smirk, as he spoke he took his time to run his eyes slowly up and down Serenity's body and then when he was done he switched his stare over to Chara who he also inspected appreciatively.
The two Princesses both went red with embarrassment as he stared them up and down. "You know who we are?" Chara asked hesitantly.
"I asked somebody when I saw you both." He smirked as the glint in his eyes deepened. "And I can tell you that ever since then I haven't been able to look at anybody else. Princess Serenity of the Lunar Moon and Princess Chara of Pluto every other girl and woman here looks drab in comparison to the two of you!"
Serenity and Chara stared at him in silence. They knew that he had intended that remark as a compliment but they also thought that it was an awful thing to say about all of the other young women who were here tonight.
Serenity had only known him for a short while now but already she knew that she didn't like him at all and Chara was feeling the exact same way.
When neither of them asked him who he was the young man with the golden hair introduced himself to them. "I am Prince Mu of planet Earth." He announced proudly and with a powerful note of arrogance in his voice. "And you two beautiful women are the loveliest I have ever seen before in my life."
Serenity gave an almost convulsive start and by her side Chara's eyes widened in utter dismay as they realised who he was.
Prince Mu's reputation was deeply unpleasant and neither of them liked the way in which he was eyeing them one little bit. Serenity would have folded her arms over her chest but she didn't want him to know that he was making her feel uncomfortable so she resisted the urge.
Mu gazed first at Serenity and then at Chara as though he were trying to make up his mind over one of them - and as it happened this was precisely what he was doing. "Princess Chara…let's dance!" he smirked as he held out his hand for her to take. "Come on…don't be shy now!"
Chara winced as she stared at his hand as though it was the blood-stained paw of a wolf but she knew that if she should refuse Mu's request then he would definitely take it as an insult. Since there were now so many people watching as the Princesses talked to him she didn't want anybody to think that she hadn't any manners.
Without a word she put her hand on his in a sweeping and graceful movement and allowed herself to be led off to a suitably wide area. As she was taken away Chara looked over her shoulder and met Serenity's eyes regretfully as their moment was well and truly ruined by Mu.
Serenity's face remained dignified and calm as she watched her friend being taken away from her but really she was filled with sorrow as the time she had looked forward to spending with Chara was so unexpectedly and firmly taken away from her.
Chara's expression was vague as she began to dance elegantly with Mu and her deep brown eyes were completely empty of pleasure or any kind of enjoyment. As far as the green-haired Princess was concerned this was common courtesy - not pleasure.
Mu felt the lack of pleasure in Chara as they danced and it rankled with him. Glancing over her shoulder he noticed Serenity standing a short distance away, watching them.
Now that she stood alone several men had followed Mu's example and surrounded Serenity but the Princess had eyes for her friend alone - and Mu's golden eyes smouldered as they narrowed.
"Your friend's waiting for you over there." He remarked for Chara's benefit and as he looked at her expressionless face a sour tinge crept into his voice.
Chara's face twitched as he referred to Serenity. "Oh?" she replied mildly as she tried to suppress her glad smile.
Her friend was waiting for her to come back…
"Oh yes." Mu purred as he watched her face carefully - he felt certain that he'd seen Chara's lips twitch upwards at the corners for a brief second when he'd mentioned Serenity. "The two of you seem to be quite good friends."
Mu knew that Chara would far rather be with the Lunar Princess than with him and that filled him with bitter enmity.
Chara gazed at him as she wondered what he could be getting at - she could see the sickly yellow fire glittering in his eyes as he stared at her so intently and she suddenly felt anxious to excuse herself and return to her friend at once.
"I really oughtn't leave Serenity on her own." She remarked cautiously. "I think that I should go back to her now…"
Mu's eyes narrowed slightly at this but when he replied his voice was still pleasantly - dripping with poisoned honey. "I'm sure that she just can't bear to be apart from her loyal companion for longer than a minute. I suppose that she was quite sincere when she told you earlier that she could spend such a long time looking at your beautiful face."
Chara forgot the excuse that she had been trying to form in her mind as she realised just what the Prince had said to her. "You…you heard what we were talking about?" she stammered, startled out of her composure.
Mu felt a little better as he saw the discomfort in her eyes - he had managed to make her feel as bad as she'd done to him and that made him feel in control. "That's right - I did." He assured her. "I listened to your touching little reunion earlier - so sweet!" he chuckled.
Chara's eyes hardened as her dismay and confusion turned to anger. "How DARE you!!!" she cried and her voice rose an octave as she snatched back her hands and glared furiously at him. "You had no right to intrude like that and listen to what passed between us!"
The Princess was so angry that she did not care who heard her - she felt violated as if he had watched her bathing.
"It's a free solar-system unless I'm very much mistaken." He retorted with a shrug. "And you know a real lady would do best to hold her tongue in public.
Chara's eyes narrowed at him as he made that remark. "It is your manners that are lacking!" she exclaimed in outraged anger. "A real man should be courteous of the privacy of others!"
Mu's eyes darkened in anger as the Princess questioned his manliness and now they seemed gold dissolving in fire. Chara did not let Mu think for a moment that his anger frightened her and as she glared at him in disgust she suddenly couldn't bear to look at him for another second. "I am going to go back to my friend now." She told him coldly. "Good evening Prince Mu."
Mu's eyes glittered unpleasantly and he breathed deeply. "Her highness will simply have to do without your company." He growled as he stepped towards her and took hold of her wrists. "I do not recall giving you permission to leave your highness."
Chara dug her nails into his skin and Mu's eyes narrowed furiously as he felt the warm trickle of blood as it ran down his wrists. "I do not need anybody's permission to withdraw my Lord…yours least of all." She told him contemptuously.
"As I told you I'm not yet done with you my Princess…" a malicious light entered his eyes and he edged his face near to Chara's as she felt her blood run cold at the look on his face. "…but on second thought perhaps your dear friend the Moon Princess would like to join us. After all…two Princesses shine with more beauty than one alone." He continued sickeningly as he moved his face closer to Chara's. "I like the idea of spending a little time alone with the two of you…you ARE both very close friends aren't you?"
Princess Chara had listened to more than she could stand and pulling one of her hands free she drew it back - without a moment of doubt about it she slapped Mu sharply across the face.
The 'crack' echoed through the Ball Room and the people who had looked away from the heated confrontation out of embarrassment or tact now looked back and watched breathlessly as Mu staggered back clutching his face dazedly.
Chara stared at him with cold anger in her face - she did not regret what she'd just done for even a second but though she was determined not to back down she felt apprehensive as she wondered what was going to happen next…
For a long while Mu could only lean back and hold his hand to his red cheek as it throbbed. His mind was numb and confused as he tried to figure out what had just happened.
Gradually as his shattered thoughts resolved he realised that his thoughts were not deceiving him - this Princess...this woman had actually dared to strike him. The unbearably long moment of shocked silence came to an end and behind his hand Mu's eyes narrowed in searing hate. Without warning he whirled back towards the Princess and with greased lightning reflexes he seized her dainty wrists in his hands and they were now rigid with fury.
Mu hissed menacingly as he dragged Chara so close to him that her face was inches away from his own as he hissed menacingly at her. "You'll be sorry for that my dear little Princess...oh yes. You'll regret that you did not keep a tighter rein of your hasty temper!"
Chara gasped as his hands tightened around her wrists with such intensity that he almost broke them. The green-haired Princess felt frozen with shock as he glared straight into her eyes with such burning enraged hatred.
"Let her go!!!" a frantic voice screamed from a short way off.
Serenity's face had become white with terror as she had watched Mu grab hold of Chara and without a seconds hesitation or indecision she pushed past the circle of young men who had surrounded her and ran straight over to help her friend without even pausing to apologise when she bumped into people.
Chara looked to one side and with a rush of relief she saw Serenity standing there now breathless with fear and excitement.
Serenity clenched her hands tightly and the look on her face was one of desperation as she stood before Mu - the Moon Princess had no idea what she should do but she knew that whatever she had to do she was going to help her friend. "Take your hands off her you coward!" she shouted desperately at Mu. "You're going to regret this! I swear that you will!"
Overcoming his initial shock in the face of Serenity's outburst Mu simply laughed in the Princess's face and in his mind he thought of an idea that appealed strongly to his malicious nature. "Don't concern yourself my beautiful Princess...of course I will release your dear friend." he leered insolently at her and then he raised his voice not to a shout but just an octave high enough to carry throughout the Ballroom and be heard by most of the people there. "Somebody really ought to give you both a lesson in manners but I won't cause a scene by being the person to educate you."
Serenity's lip curled in disgust - as if he had not caused them to become a spectacle already!
"And after all...I'm sure that you certainly don't want her to be touched be me do you?" he remarked suggestively. "You know...by a man?"
Serenity stared at him as she felt perplexed by his words. "W-What are you talking about?" she stammered as her anger was extinguished by her moment of confusion.
Satisfied that the majority of the people in the Ballroom could hear every single word that he said Mu laughed in the Princess' face. "It really doesn't matter at all your highness...I'll just leave you both in peace now. I know how much you mean to each other and I'm sure that I wouldn't like to ruin your special time together." his voice was mild but Chara and Serenity were both close enough to see the taunting expression on his face. "After all who knows when you will next be able to spend time together like this?"
At the very same moment Serenity and Chara understood what he was hinting at and as they did their faces burned deep crimson in humiliation - they were both helpless and there was nothing that they could do about it. Both of them knew perfectly well that should they rise to the bait and deny what Mu was trying to accuse them of then the people who were hanging on every word that passed between them would assume that they were trying to hide the fact that it was the truth.
Mu had not openly accused them but if either Chara or Serenity made an issue of this then it would seem to everybody else that they had something to hide. As it stood they could both feel the speculative eyes that had now become fixed on them and hear the suspicious whispers that were beginning to fill the corners of the room behind their backs.
Serenity felt sick to her stomach as she realised that she could do nothing but let Mu get away with what he had done...
Mu understood what she was thinking as he looked at her crestfallen lilac eyes and he bestowed a sneering grin upon her as he gloated silently over her misery...but his glee did not last long. A firm hand fell upon his shoulder with a strong grip that suggested that it wouldn't be letting go again in a hurry. Mu's leer froze and slowly his eyes sidled to one side to see who now stood behind him. Chara thought that the look on Mu's face ressembled that of a little boy caught tormenting a dog that was chained up.
Serenity's equally startled eyes followed the hand up to the arm that it belonged to as she momentarily forgot all about what was happening.
Standing behind Mu was a tall and very grim-faced young man in a long and flowing light-blue cloak. His poise was majestic and his bearing regal as he held the Prince's shoulder in a firm grip. As she gazed at the newcomer, spellbound, Chara found herself suddenly lost for words as she caught her breath. However unlike a moment ago this was a wholly different experience which she actually found pleasant...
This young man had sea blue hair which shone like a beautiful river in the warm glow of the Ballroom. His face had a handsome modesty that Serenity found appealing, but it was his eyes which made the creme-haired Princess gaze captivated, all the more so because Serenity felt suddenly certain that she should know him though she could not quite put her finger on when that had been and what his name was…meanwhile Chara's face had broken into a grin of relief and she seemed to be waiting for something.
The eyes of the young man were so serious and deep but at the same time they were passionate as he directed his deeply intense stare at Mu who now stared at him completely stunned. Mu's arrogance now seemed to have dried up completely in the face of this new and unexpected turn of events as he stared blankly at the dashing newcomer.
Eventually the man with the shimmering hair spoke and his voice was grave and firm. "I think that this disgrace has gone on for long enough." he remarked with contempt as he addressed Mu. "And I suggest that you unhand this young woman...now."
There was no threatening tone in his voice but really he didn't need to try to be menacing for the determination that his voice carried did enough. His grim eyes gave everybody who heard his voice the impression that it would not be a sensible idea to treat him light-heartedly.
Mu was shaken that he was actually being confronted but he struggled to retrieve his dignity. "Would you care to take your hand off me please?" he snapped back although now his voice clearly wavered.
The young stranger's eyes remained firmly level with Mu's and his hand showed no sign of stirring from it's place on the Prince's shoulder. "I'll do that for you...as soon as you set the example by unhanding her highness." he responded coldly.
Mu was at a total loss for what to do as he stood faced with the contemptuous newcomer who had accosted him. "Who do you think you are friend?" he spat, angry but too much a coward to be aggressive about it. "Why do you insist on interfering in what doesn't concern you? Do you fashion yourself to be some sort of 'hero' out to save the world? Stay away from me 'hero'...you know that this has nothing to do with you."
The young man merely gave him a look of scornful disgust as he passed these words over without reaction. "Mu...I don't think that you can possibly realise just how little I actually care about what you think of me." he replied with cutting contempt in his voice. "And you're right...what you do is of no interest to me whatsoever. But threatening a young woman who came here to cherish the time she has with her friend tonight...that just isn't done." his eyes gleamed coldly at the prince and now there was an alarming expression in them. "And that does concern me." he concluded darkly as he tightened his grip on Mu's shoulder. "Now release Princess Chara...or I'll make you wish so much that you'd been chivalrous enough to stay away from these lovely young women in the first place. After all I consider it most improper for you to be handling my fiancée in such a manner…don't you?"
Serenity reeled, momentarily forgetting what was happening in the shock that this last remark sparked within her…what?!!
As the people who had been watching the confrontation caught this morsel it spread quickly through their ranks – none of them had heard that Princess Chara was betrothed to the well-known young man who had come to the rescue of she and Serenity and by the next morning the news would be spread throughout the galaxy as the party-goers returned to their homeworlds to talk about it.
Mu's face was sheer white as he realised that his maliciously sewed rumour had been pulled up by the roots before it had, had the chance to take root – and indeed he was now faced with the consequences of handling Chara, the fiancée of the man who he recognized from description and at the thought of what he had done getting around he shuddered.
Serenity and Chara smiled as they both let his words wash over them. Serenity blushed a pretty pink shade as she gazed at the brave young man who had come to her assistance in her time of need. The young man with the shining blue hair had quite literally taken her breath away and she found that she could not tear her eyes away from his serious face. For a long while Mu stared at the young man in silence as he realised that he was deadly serious. Without a word Mu let go of Chara's delicate wrists.
As Princess Chara stepped away from him and traced the tender area of her wrist where she had been so tightly gripped with her finger Serenity put her arm protectively around her shoulder as she felt relieved that it was all over. Mu glowered at them both like at a spiteful cat that had just watched the escape of the mouse it had been chasing. They both looked so happy and contented standing together like that...
The Prince just couldn't allowed either of them to walk way from this without paying for his humiliation. The malevolent streak in his vindictive nature could never allow it. "Perhaps one day I will teach YOU your proper place..." he spat venomously at Serenity who he judged to be 'safe' since she wasn't soon to be wed to this man, then he smirked suggestively in readiness for a final taunt. "Now I'll just let the you to be be alone with your friend...I suppose that you would both like to express your last regrets together before the wedding."
Mu made to turn and walk arrogantly away...but he did not take a single step away from where he stood. The stranger's eyes had been calm up until now but as he heard that one last taunt they flared up in anger. As Mu moved away he reached forward and grabbed the arrogant young man by the shoulder again and whirled him roughly around to pierce his eyes with an intense stare. Mu's eyes were blank as they took in the anger in the blue-haired man's face. Then he fell back stunned senseless and staggered back to lean against a wall.
Breathing heavily the young man who had just punched Mu in the face with as much force as he had been able to muster gave the young prince one last look of scorn and then turned to face Serenity and Chara.
"I think it might be safe to assume that he won't be troubling you again any time soon my Princesses." he told them with a smile as he appreciated their beauty. "Or ever again if he learns anything from tonight. Are you alright Princess?" he asked as concern filtered into his handsome face and he turned to look intently at the Princesses.
"Yes...thank you so much for helping her." Serenity's smile was also full of sheer gratitude. "We are in your debt good sir."
"No..." he smiled slightly bashfully as he averted his eyes. "It was nothing really...that man offended me in the first place and when I saw him laying hands on her highness I resolved to teach him a lesson in common courtesy towards women." he looked againat Chara as the anxiety returned to his face. "Are you certain that you'll be alright now?" he pressed unable to rest easily until he was sure.
"Of course I will!" Chara's pleasant blush deepened and Serenity could see that her friend felt happy that he was so anxious about her well being.
"She's right...I'll look after her." Serenity assured him. "Thank you again for what you did for her." then she remembered what she had heard a moment ago, the startling news that had been driven out of her mind by the confrontation and gasped. "Chara...you AREN'T!" she exclaimed loudly but this time she raised her voice out of astonishment.
Chara laughed as her friend finally realised it. "Oh indeed I am Serenity...this magnificent fellow and I are engaged to be married as soon as I come of age." she said beaming. "It was all arranged since the last time I saw you...that was why I had so little time for you my friend and so I decided to make it up to by bringing him along so you could finally meet the one who I will soon wed."
Serenity smiled, forgetting any sadness that she herself inevitably felt deep down at the thought of her friend settling down for good and marrying. "Well...it was most lucky that you happened along when you did good sir." she remarked for the young man's benefit. "Chara, are you...?"
"Positive!" Chara exclaimed. "Oh I know, I know, when I returned home to find that I had an ARRANGED marriage to look forward to I felt humiliated but when I saw him again after all those years..." she breathed a sigh and simply quivered in happy expectation.
Serenity smiled and did not reply - she knew that this was about Chara not about her and it helped the numb the pain of the loss that she knew lay ahead for them both...a little. "And may I know the name of the man who my friend will share the rest of her life with?"
The young man paused and turned back to them and grinned dashingly at the crème-haired Princess who waited patiently for his answer. "My name your highness..." he began politely. "...is Char, Prince of the Outer Moon Charon. It was good to meet you again after hearing so much about you from Chara now I shall leave you both to enjoy the rest of the evening in peace. Good night to you both!"
And a short way off behind the now happy and assured Princesses, Prince Mu also stared bitterly in the direction that Char had taken and his black heart seethed with fury.
This would cost that fool dearly one day...
Mu swore that one day Prince Char would pay for humiliating him this night...
The room seemed to have become warmer as Queen Serenity's beautiful voice came to a period of thoughtful silence now that her story was told. Universe was lost for words as she thought about the story that the Queen of the Moon had just told her - during the tale of Serenity's youth the Princess's eyes had become distant as she had imagined everything that she had been told perfectly in her mind's eye.
"So…" Universe realised that it was up to her to break the silence and so she did. "…that's what happened."
Queen Serenity looked at her with a deep emotion in her eyes. "Yes." She breathed and almost unbidden a smile touched her slightly thoughtful face. "I remember that night as clearly as the first time I saw the stars in the sky. But it is strange Universe - you see it is a very important memory for me. I wouldn't give it up for the world because it was the night that I saw how much Chara loved Char and was certain that he loved her…I knew at once that they would be perfectly happy together."
"At least YOUR story had a happy ending." Universe broke in, her voice verging on being frantic. "But MINE…" she trailed off into miserable silence and averted her eyes again.
Queen Serenity bowed her head and sighed deeply. "Universe…I feel certain that Mu did what he did to hurt ME. He probably spent every spare moment he had since that night waiting for a chance to pay us back for his humiliation…"
"So when he found out who I was and where I came from he saw his chance…" Universe muttered as she looked directly at Serenity's face. "…and he took it."
Queen Serenity sighed sorrowfully and her shoulders sagged a little. "Yes…I am afraid so." She admitted and then shook her head in growing distress. "Oh I cannot help but feel responsible for how much you have been hurt tonight." She exclaimed, startling Universe with the intensity of her feelings. "You are suffering now because of the quarrel that Chara and I had with Mu in the past he should not have hurt you to get to me! That was wrong…"
"It wasn't your fault." Universe muttered as she leaned deeper into the Lunarian's arm. "You did exactly what I did Queen Serenity…stood up for your friend. There's nothing wrong about that."
Queen Serenity gazed at her and felt relieved by what she had said. "So do you forgive me?" she asked, anxiety clear in her voice.
"Sure."
Queen Serenity's eyes relaxed and she smiled thankfully as she stroked Universe's shoulders again, taking her time as she ran her hand along the girl's skin. "I am glad." She replied softly. "I could not bear to think that you felt angry with me…"
"Why would I be?" Universe asked quietly as she looked up at her. "It's not your fault they'll all hate me because I'm too low and pathetic for them to think of me any other way…" she lowered her eyes and then added softly. "…and I won't be able to stay here now will I?"
Serenity stopped short with a sharp intake of breath as she realised what Universe had just said. Looking at her there was now severe expression on her face. "Universe that is not true at all!" she told her sharply.
"But of course it is!" Universe argued, her eyes were anguished as she turned them to meet those of the Lunarian. "You know who I really am…what I am." The bitterness in her voice was aimed at herself rather than anybody else. "Why shouldn't anybody see me as anything but a wandering huntress with no name of her own and whose own parents didn't want her?"
There was a long silence and she assumed that Queen Serenity had nothing so say in return. But then she felt Serenity's fingers being placed beneath her chin and tilting her head back so that their eyes met. The look in Serenity's eyes shocked Universe and left her lost for breath - as she gazed deeply into the girl's brown eyes the Queen's face was stern but there was also the plain hint of anger in it. "Now just you listen to me. Do not let me hear you saying such degrading things about yourself EVER again." Serenity told her sternly and there was anger at the very edge of her voice. "Do you understand me Universe?"
Universe gazed dumbly at her she actually felt a little frightened by the intensity in the Queen's eyes and was at a total loss for words as she remained locked within Serenity's gaze, unable to look away.
Seeing her like this Serenity's eyes became gentler as did her voice as she took her finger from beneath Universe's chin now that it was no longer needed to hold her gaze. "Universe…I know that you are afraid right now and I understand that perfectly." She told her softer than before. "But know something else. I will never let anything bad happen to you. This is your home now…always remember that Universe."
"I…" Universe began to murmur.
"No Universe - hear me out." Serenity hushed her as she continued. " You are a wonderful girl and have a good heart. Everybody who matters will see that through your past. Whatever happens from tonight you must always remain strong. Remember that."
Universe was almost mesmerised by the conviction in Serenity's face, shining in her eyes and ringing in her voice. And in her shocked frame of mind she could not hold back the thought that had been eating away at her ever since she had stumbled into this room. "Queen Serenity…I'm scared!" she cried. "I'm so scared!"
"I know that you are Universe. But you must not look upon life so fearfully." Serenity comforted as she reached down took Universe's hands into her own and looked deeply into her eyes. "Trust me Universe. I cannot show you the way forward now but I know in my heart that as long as you remain strong then you shall find it for yourself." Her voice was now kindly and reassuring once more.
Universe lowered her eyes and tried to think about this but found that her mind was just too numbed by the events of the night and the intensity of the emotions she had just felt. A memory of something that had happened tonight occurred to her and worried her. "Is Charon okay?" she asked quietly as she returned her eyes to Serenity again.
Queen Serenity smiled and nodded in assurance. "Of course she is Universe. Charon has simply caught the cold but she has been put to bed and will most likely be completely recovered by the morning." Her voice became a little quieter as she added. "You know Universe, Charon has been asking for you. Why not go and see her?"
Universe's lips parted as she wavered but then she shook her head quickly. "No…I can't see any of them…" she muttered miserably.
Queen Serenity felt sad but she nodded understanding and accepting Universe's decision.
"I'm sorry for that scene back there." Universe suddenly began quietly. "I ruined everything…"
Serenity just smiled. "Don't be silly!" she exclaimed firmly. "It doesn't matter at all. And you did nothing wrong. You acted as you did because you care for Charon and Estrella and didn't want to see or hear anybody harming them. I am proud of you Universe and I think well of you for the way in which you stood up to him so bravely. Don't feel ashamed of yourself for your deeds or actions my dear Princess for you are perfect the way you are and I do not ever desire for you to change yourself." She stroked Universe's hand gently as she looked at her with that same warm smile on her face. "I want you to always stay just the way you are now Universe."
Universe was taken-aback by the passion in the Queen's voice as she had said all of this but a small part of her which was at it's strongest right then refused to let it end like that. "How's that? Rough, foul-mouthed n' rude?" she asked with her faintest remaining traces of bitterness.
Queen Serenity simply gazed at her and then breathed her reply that came from her heart. "Caring, brave and with a kind and loving heart."
Universe was now silent and just nodded mutely, she was now feeling too drained to say anything more and seeing the tiredness written all over her face the Lunarian's eyes became concerned. "I really think that it is time you went to bed." She said firmly as she took hold of Universe's shoulders and rose to her feet drawing the purple-haired Princess up with her to stand on her feet again for the first time since she had found her here. "Come - I will walk with you to your room."
Unnoticed by the Queen the very beginning of a tiny wry smile flickered at the corner of Universe's lips. Her room…so now she she'd finally know where it was. Not that she cared…she didn't care about anything anymore.
Universe allowed Queen Serenity to put her arm around her shoulders and lead her out of the room and along the corridor. As they walked Universe suddenly turned her head sideways to look at Serenity. "You're wrong ya know." She muttered in a husky voice. "They won't accept me now…not after this…"
Queen Serenity gave her a calm, soothing look. "That's enough talk for tonight sweet-heart." She told Universe. "We'll talk about it in the morning when you are in a more reasonable mood."
Universe fell into silence but only because she didn't care to break the silence this time. Together they walked up the stairs without another word and along another corridor and eventually stopped outside the door to Universe's room.
Here Serenity removed her arm from around Universe and turned to face her one more time. "Sleep. You will feel very much better about it in the morning." She reached out and patted Universe on the cheek affectionately. "Goodnight Universe."
"Right." Universe did not sound convinced. "Goodbye Queen Serenity."
Serenity furrowed her brow in puzzlement - that had not sounded quite right somehow. "'Goodbye'?" she wondered out loud. "Don't you mean 'goodnight'?"
Beside her Universe stiffened as she realised what she had just said. "Probably…"
Before Serenity had a chance to reply Universe quickly moved forward and opened the door. Serenity watched sympathetically as her purple-haired charge went inside the room and closed the door behind her.
Poor Universe…how could Mu do something so cruel and heartless?
The memory of Universe's face so heartbroken and devoid of light and her eyes so empty of hope continued to haunt her and Serenity could only hope that she would be strong enough to cope with what she knew was now inevitably to come. With one last long look at the door Queen Serenity turned and walked away towards the top of the stairway - intending to go and visit Princess Charon one last time before she herself got some much needed rest.
Inside her room Universe leant heavily back against the door she had not taken one step away from since she had walked in as the solitary tear that she had not wanted Queen Serenity to see rolled slowly down her cheek even though she had scrunched her eyes as tightly closed as she could.
Queen Serenity did not realise it but this was in fact the first time that Universe had ever been here. For since the day she had first arrived in the Moon Kingdom Universe had slept out in Princess Charon's garden rather in the room that the Queen had had prepared for her. Universe had felt overawed by such things and deep down she knew that the reason she had chosen to sleep outside was so that she could hold onto one piece of the independence she had mostly relinquished when she had come here and become a Princess.
But Universe did not take even a look at the room around her - everything before her may as well have been invisible for she had come to a decision which filled her with misery but seemed to her to be the only thing she could do. She knew what she was going to do…she would go. She would go back to the Star Raiders and her old life tonight.
Universe could not bear to be surrounded by disgust, to be an object of disdain and scorn. And she felt certain that even Mercury would not want to be seen with her now that the truth was known. Universe couldn't bear that. It would be just to horrible to lose the warmth of the Mercurian's kindness and friendship - to see her every day and watch as she caught her gaze and turned away from her.
I must go back now… she told herself sorrowfully. …back to the violence and aggression of the life of the hunter…
And she bowed her head and wept silently in the darkness all around her…and in her heart.
~*~*~
It was midnight when Universe finally left her room and began the sorrowful walk back to the dressing room. Since the hour was so late the purple-haired girl knew that she would not be questioned along the way for the only people still awake were the guards patrolling the palace grounds outside.
Universe stepped into the dressing room and closed the door behind her almost mechanically. Looking down at herself she sighed with real regret and shook her head. The dress had been given to her by Queen Serenity - she had no right to take it and anyway she was going back to the Star Raiders so…
Universe blushed at the thought of any of them seeing her in a dress and without another thought she undressed. First she slipped her arms out of the shoulder length gloves with the greatest of care and put them on the surface of the dresser. Then she reached behind her back and pulled the gown up and over her head until she was holding it in her hands. Universe gave the dress one last wistful look and then with a sigh that said more than words ever could she folded it up with great care and respect and put it on the dresser on top of the gloves. Bitterly she slid her hands behind her head and slowly undid the violet ribbon that she had tied about her hair just to make herself absolutely perfect in Mercury's eyes and placed it down on the dresser. Finally she slipped out of the elegant white shoes and put them on the floor at the foot of the dresser.
As she stood naked in the middle of the room Universe took a moment to think about what she was doing here. Having cast away the garments of her new life she was now about to re-garb herself in the trappings of the old.
Forcing herself to stop thinking about it since she knew it would only make what she was doing unbearable Universe walked over to the wardrobe and took hold of the brass door-handle, turning it in her hand. As the wardrobe door swung open she glanced around its interior and when she looked down she saw her old clothes lying at the bottom. Folded up were the short brown top and the frayed skirt and beside them were her old knee-length leather boots.
The memory came back to her of how nervous she had been about her clothes during the first couple of weeks she'd spent here, how worried and paranoid she'd been about them being thrown out while she wasn't looking...
A few days before Emperor Mu's visit to the Moon Kingdom..
"Xizor?"
The ambassador of the Moon Kingdom had been deep in thought as he had stepped out of her Majesty's throne-room having just received her appointment of his new task - a trip to the planet Earth. The Queen of the Moon had instructed him to journey to the planet that was so near to their Kingdom and yet the one that was least visited by the Lunarians and deliver to Emperor Mu her invitation to visit her home the following week.
It was a prospect that he didn't relish in the slightest but after all it was his job and so he'd been worrying his head off as he'd stepped into the corridor…so much so that he'd almost collapsed with surprised as Princess Universe had stepped out from behind a corner and stood directly in his path. "Ah! Ah, your Highness…ah!" Xizor gasped as he gave a convulsive start and stopped. "Ah…that is to say, how may I be of assistance?"
Universe studied him, an odd unreadable kind of look on her face as she considered whether or not she should say what was on her mind. "Where are my clothes?" she suddenly asked plainly.
The question seemed most unusual. "Well there they are…there." He replied in some confusion as he pointed at Universe's bodice and then with a blush he redirected his finger to her stomach. "…your Highness." He hastily added.
Universe almost seemed reassured by his manner for some reason and she instantly relaxed. "No, I'm talking about the clothes I was wearing when I first came here." She smirked as she folded her arms. "What happened to them?"
Xizor made a little 'oh' sound as he understood. "Why they should be right where Katarina put them your Highness." He told her helpfully.
Universe nodded, her expression satisfied. "Thanks." She replied gratefully as she moved past the bewildered man. "Oh and Xizor…this conversation never happened."
Xizor watched her go as he struggled to cope with what had just happened…whatever it might have actually been. "Oh…didn't it your Highness?" he muttered in a vague kind of way and Universe shook her head and smiled…
...the smirk on her face now was bitter in contrast to the wry smile that she'd worn then. Back then she'd still been determined that she'd only be here until either she grew too sick and tired to remain for a minute longer or else the people here were fed up with her and asked her to leave. Strange that it hadn't quite worked out that way...
Gathering the garments up in her arms Universe turned away from the wardrobe and one by one she put them all back on for the first time in many months. Firstly she slid into the skirt and then wrapped the top around her chest and slid the narrow ties through it and tied them in a knot. Once she had done this she sat down and slid her feet into the black boots. With a sudden curiosity she looked towards the full-length mirror and saw herself...
Universe remembered how Katarina had brought her back to this room after bathing her and washing her hair all those months ago to show her how she looked. A wry and affectionate smile turned the corner of her lips slightly as she remembered how horrified she had been by her new 'pretty' appearance at first.
But now as she saw her reflection she found that it just wasn't what she had expected at all. Instead of being transformed back into the 'wild-girl' leader of the Star Raiders she had once been what felt now to her like a lifetime ago Universe she just looked…strange.
Incomplete…rough even.
With clean skin and her hair cascading down to her waist completely clean of dirt or dry blood she realised that she looked strange in her old clothes. Somehow that made her feel sadder than before…it was as if she was now neither a Princess nor a Star Raider.
Doubt filled her now stricken eyes as a nasty thought occurred to her…could she now not go back to her old life?
Deep down however Universe knew that the question she was asking herself was really whether or not she WANTED to…and she knew the answer though she tried to silence it, Universe closed her eyes sadly but sternly told herself over and over again that she had to go through with this now that she had started it. When she opened her brown eyes again they were hard but flat and lacked their usual spark...even the Lyanore-light that sparkled in them seemed bleak.
Turning away from the mirror that she could no longer bear to look at she moved towards the door…there were still a few things left for her to do before she…
Universe shook her head as she opened the door and stepped out again into the corridor…she didn't want to think about leaving the Moon Kingdom. The thought of what she was now doing was bitter and she tried to forget about it by thinking of what she was going to need to do before she went. She'd need to stop by the guard's armoury and grab her spear and then visit the parlour to get some provisions for her journey.
Her hair would have to wait for later - she was already going to run the risk of being caught so she would have to take care of it when she was well away. Ten minutes later Universe stood in the parlour wearing Gafgarion on her back in its leather shoulder-straps even though it somehow didn't feel as good between her shoulder-blades as she had once expected it to. Now the narrow leather straps felt like iron chains and the spear felt like a heavy weight dragging her down…
In her hand she held a lilac bag in which she had put a few chickens and some glass bottles that she planned to fill with water on her way out of the palace. A faint frown creased her face as she looked at the bag she was holding in her hands. She had not taken much - only enough to see her to the nearest planet if she was careful with it. But all the same it still felt like stealing to take it without asking…
The thought of Queen Serenity and the others thinking that the last thing she had done was to steal whatever she could before she left made her feel sick but she knew that she could not go anywhere without anything to eat and drink along the way. But again she froze and became lost in thought…why was she worried about not being able to leave?
The purple-haired girl did not want to leave the Moon Kingdom…just the thought of never seeing any of her friends again filled her with sadness and loss and she didn't think about Queen Serenity because she knew that if she did she would not be able to go. Then Universe shook herself and slung the bag decisively over her shoulder…it was time to go.
A feeling of regret stole over her as she wished for the first time in her life that she could write. Universe wanted to at least leave a note that one of them could find. It could have thanked Queen Serenity for having her here and apologise for running off without a word. It came as a bitter stab when Universe remembered how she had promised the Queen that she would not leave without a word and that if she went ahead with this then she would be breaking that promise. Also a note could have helped to assure Mercury and Charon that her friendship with them remained just as strong as it had ever been and always would…
Then the purple-haired girl smiled faintly. "I bet even Jupiter can read and write…" Universe muttered to herself.
It was no use thinking about it when it couldn't happen…she couldn't even write her name so it was as simple as that. And it was now that something struck her for the first time - something very important which she had not once thought about until now. Once she was out of the Moon Kingdom what was she going to call herself? The brown-eyed girl stood numbly in the dim light of the parlour and thought about this…was she going to become Rula again?
It felt strange…she had felt indignant at first when Queen Serenity had suggested giving her a new name but now… Universe realised that she did feel sad at letting go of her 'Princess' name - one more of the many things that Serenity had given her and she would be leaving behind here…
Turning on her heel Universe walked out of the parlour and made her way down the corridor and as she walked she again pushed her sorrowful thoughts out of her mind by thinking of action. There would be guards on patrol but she was confident that she'd easily be able to slip past them without being seen. Eventually she came to a stop in front of a long-forgotten wooden door. It led out into a secluded area of the palace grounds where the number of guards on patrol was lowest since none of the newer and younger guards knew of the door's existence. Universe had stumbled across during her first week after coming to the Moon Kingdom - when she had had nothing to do all day but explore the long passageways of the palace since she had had nobody to talk to…
Anxiously Universe took hold of the old brass doorknob…and her hand stopped. This was it…she was on the verge of walking out on everything she had now and the only people left in her life who she loved right now.
Love…how strange it felt. Universe had never liked to admit that she ever felt any emotions towards people least of all affection - when she had been young Dirk's frequent beatings of her had caused her to grow up always feeling wary of other people and suspicious about their 'feelings'.
After the death of Steel-Eye she had been scornful whenever any of the Star Raiders tried to gain her affection and when the sun had set on the day Vaura had died her feelings had been left crippled…and almost dead as dead as her friend the Lyanore. But during the time she had lived here in happiness and without needing to fight to protect her own life Universe knew that those feelings had returned and the friendships that she had gained had nurtured them…kept them alive.
Taking a deep breath as she gazed back down the dimly lit passageway that led into the palace where her friends now slept peacefully and unaware that she was now leaving them she made her final farewells in the silence of her mind. Queen Serenity…thank you for everything. She thought gratefully and sorrowfully and closed her eyes in respect. You've done so much for me…I don't know what to say. I never lived up to being 'Princess Universe'…I'm sorry. You shouldn't have wasted your time with me…I'm no good to you. Goodbye…and thank you for caring.
Her lower lip quivered and then her whole body began to tremble as she thought about never seeing those wonderful lilac eyes again - for a brief moment Universe desperately wanted to go and find Queen Serenity, throw her arms around her and tell her everything…how she was feeling and the horrible guilt that she had always felt ever since she had left Charon…anything to be able to speak to her.
It was agony to deny herself what she truly wanted but she did with an incredible exertion of raw will. As Universe fought with herself to stop her feet from walking back up the corridor to find the Queen her shoulders slumped heavily. Mercury…I'll miss you. Just forget that I was ever a part of your life…you're better off not knowing me. Be happy and stay as sweet as you are…always.
Charon… Thank you for trying to understand me. Not a lot of people ever bothered to try to look into my heart or know the real me. I won't forget you…not ever. Even when I'm old…sorry, I won't get to tell you all about my life just as I promised I would. She lowered her head silently and closed her eyes tightly in bitterness. I'll be too busy living it…
Estie… Sorry about this. I wish that I could stay and see you when you grow up to be Queen Serenity's most trusted advisor…I know that you will be so just try not to remember me - just concentrate on being the best that I know you'll be. See ya…forgive me for being a coward if you can.
With one last huge effort Universe turned away and desperate to be enveloped by them she stepped through the old door and out into the shadows of the world outside…
The Only Way Out
It did not take Queen Serenity long to find the place where Universe had hidden herself after that night's incident. Serenity knew her well enough by this time to realise at once where she would run to if she wanted to keep out of sight and be on her own.
As soon as she had gotten the chance to leave the Throne Room the Queen had instinctively made her way back to the dressing room where Universe had been groomed and re-clothed when she had first arrived. The Queen felt terribly afraid of what Universe might do now that her secret had been revealed and soon would become common knowledge - she knew that she must find her at once and talk with her, reassure her that everything was going to be just fine. That even though many things that could not be helped had been changed tonight nothing important had changed at all.
As she peered into the room Serenity found that her guess had been quite correct. She had found Universe sitting in the pitched darkness of the unlit room hugging her knees to her chest. The girl was slumped to the floor with her head bowed and she made no reaction at all as the light from the outside corridor streamed into the room as Serenity looked down and saw her there.
Serenity felt as if her heart was torn by the broken and forlorn appearance of Universe as she sat there like an animal that had been kicked into a corner and left to cower there all on it's own. "Universe?" she greeted her purple-haired charge softly as she gazed at her through compassionate eyes.
Universe slowly tilted her head up. The expression etched on her sombre face was one of terrible and desolate hopelessness as she looked up at the Queen of the Moon and blinked slightly in the new light streaming in through the doorway. "Hey." she greeted her in a voice that sounded as dead as she felt.
Serenity walked further into the room closing the door behind her so that the two of them could have some privacy. "How are you feeling?" she asked tenderly as she put a light on even though she understood how Universe must feel at that moment.
Until then Universe had been determined not show any sign of weakness but as soon as she was asked this, her natural defences crumbled beneath the weight of her misery and her face fell. "Why the hell did he do that?!!" she wailed as she hugged her knees so tightly that she almost crushed her ribs and buried her face in her lap. "What did I ever do to him?"
Serenity went over to Universe and put a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder as she knelt by her side. "I do not know." There was great sadness in her face as she looked sympathetically at the quaking girl. "Cruelty is humanity's worst trait of all Universe."
"It's not fair…" Universe whimpered as she began to sob softly but violently so that her body shook with each one even though she tried to stop.
"I know." Serenity ran her hand gently along Universe's shoulder as she tried to think of the words to comfort her. "I am truly sorry that this has happened Universe but I promise you…"
The Queen got no further for as she realised what she was going to say Universe's head whipped up as though stung by a vicious insect and she stared at her in disbelief. "Don't tell me that it'll be okay!" she exclaimed and her voice was stricken. "Whatever you're gonna say, don't tell me that! How can it EVER be okay now that they know…what I am?"
"Don't worry." The Queen began in a soothing voice. "I won't let anyone treat you any differently…"
"You can't change what they think about me!" Universe responded miserably.
Serenity closed her eyes for a moment for she knew that Universe was right. The Queen was distraught herself to see the girl so upset and afraid - and for the first time in her life she found herself at a complete loss for what to do and say to make things better.
"This was bound to happen sooner or later!" Universe went on bitterly when Serenity did not reply.
"Not necessarily." Serenity replied quietly and opened her eyes. "Oh Universe…how could you do that?" she sighed and shook her head reproachfully. "Couldn't you have restrained yourself?"
Universe gazed blankly at her, unable to register what she was hearing. "H-huh?" she stammered. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that there is a time and a place for confrontation and that was neither." Serenity explained a little sternly as she gazed disapprovingly at the Princess. "I know that what he said was appalling but it was silly of you to lose your temper and let him goad you like that."
"I…I can't believe this!" Universe gasped as she stared at the Queen in disbelief. "Are you saying that it's all my fault? I was standing up for my friend! How can you find fault with that after what HE did?!!"
Queen Serenity's eyes softened as she gazed compassionately at the distraught girl for her plea had brought back a memory to her from her own youth. "No, no." she sighed gently as she stroked Universe's shoulder again to calm and reassure her. " Not at all. I am sorry Universe. I should not have said that. I know exactly how you felt…I understand what you are going through now."
Universe's eyes gazed at Queen Serenity and they seemed to become clearer as she thought and put several things together in her mind. "Have you ever met Mu before tonight?" she suddenly asked.
Serenity's face became startled as she gazed at Universe and saw the alert look on her face…then she sighed once more and nodded her head. "Yes." She admitted quietly and lowered her eyes.
Universe watched her intently as she fell silent as though she were thinking deeply about something…or rather remembering something that had happened long ago. "Well?" she pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop now that she had taken it up.
"Well…?" Queen Serenity repeated mildly, her eyes still gazing away from Universe's questioning face.
"Tell me about it." Universe asked simply.
Queen Serenity raised her eyes again slowly and her face was calm but also reluctant as she met Universe's expectant gaze. "Universe…" she began gently.
"Tell me!" Universe insisted.
Queen Serenity gazed silently at the stubborn Princess for a few minutes and then she sighed once more as she decided to give Universe what she wished - after all it was the least she could do after the deep hurt the girl had suffered tonight. "Very well." The Lunarian Queen said and lightly slid her arm around Universe's shoulders to draw her close to herself before she began to tell her story…
It had happened on a night that had taken place during Serenity's raven youth.
The night had been one of breath-taking beauty for the stars had been clear in the velvety blue sky as their vast constellations had shimmered like the surface of a lake filled with crystals.
The sky had been a wonderful vision and neither her imagination nor any of her fantastic dreams could ever have equalled it and as she had looked up in awe her excitement had welled up inside her as a thrilling rush.
Serenity - or rather Princess Serenity as she had been before she had assumed the Queenship of the Lunar Moon - had not been excited by the prospect of the Ball she had come to, nor even the many and varied noblemen she was sure she would be obliged to introduce herself to and smile pleasantly while they told her who they were.
No the Moon Princess's joy to be here came from another source. The true reason for Serenity's eagerness to agree to attend this glamorous event that had been arranged in celebration of the dawning of the Silver Millennium - an age that promised to be the most mutually peaceful and prosperous age for the entire universe to date - had been because the day before she had received a letter from her dearest friend Princess Chara.
Serenity had eagerly opened the letter for her heart was gladdened that she had received word from her beloved friend - as she had run her lilac eyes across Chara's elegant and beautiful handwriting she had filled with excitement.
Chara's letter had told her to expect to see her on the night of the Ball and that at the very moment that she had written the letter she hoped to see her there too. Serenity's delicate hands had trembled as she held the piece of crisp white paper to her chest, she felt happy at the thought of seeing Princess Chara again…
Ever since they had first met on her relationship-building visit to Pluto they had formed a friendship so pure and uncomplicated that after that day the Princesses had been closer to nobody else.
Though they had been separated time and time again their thoughts had always been with one another as if their hearts had been one, beating in harmony - the very love they shared being the life blood it commanded.
No matter where she was and what she was doing Serenity always thought of her friend who was absent from her life and now after many months they were finally going to see each other again.
Serenity's lilac eyes swept the almost full Ballroom with a searching glance. The Lunarian Princess was already looking for Chara, trying to pick her out among the many dancing couples and noblemen and ladies…
There was just the tiniest hint of a frown on the Moon Princess's face as she tried to find her friend amidst the vast and assorted gathering of Royalty, nobility and certain others in the hall.
Where could Chara be…?
"You must be sillier than a Seora if you think that you can find me like that Serenity." A voice breathed in her ear sweetly as a gentle pair of hands came to rest on her shoulder.
With a gasp of surprise Princess Serenity looked over her bare shoulder and met the pair of deep brown eyes that had been watching her from the very moment she had stepped into the Ballroom.
Princess Chara's face was split by a bubbly grin as she gazed at her fellow Moon Princess for the first time in four months. Chara had made certain that she had arrived several minutes before Serenity so that she would have plenty of time to immerse herself in the crowds of people who had come from every corner of the universe to celebrate the dawning of the Silver Millennium.
As she had stood in hiding in the middle of a group of women from Venus who had been eagerly discussing their ideal men Chara had kept her watchful eyes on the pair of tall white double-doors on the far side of the vast room so that she would see her friend the very moment that she arrived.
While Serenity had been gazing around the magnificent room trying to find her Chara had smiled secretly and her brown eyes had twinkled with mischief at the thought of surprising her friend…quickly excusing herself from the Venusians who she had left behind huffing in indignation at her sudden departure (It had been her turn to tell them about her own perfect version of a suitor.) she had quickly darted around the width of the hall making sure that as she moved she remained hidden from sight by the many people until she had arrived behind Serenity who had still been gazing around trying to find her.
Serenity had not thought of looking behind her and so she had easily been able to walk up to her friend and whisper affectionately in her ear as she had put her hands on her fellow Princess's shoulders.
Serenity's eyes widened as she found herself gazing into Chara's and the moment that she realised that she was gazing at her friend again they shone like a pair of polished sapphires. "Chara I can't believe that you're here!!" she shrieked joyfully as they flung their arms around each other. "It's been so long…I could hardly believe that it was you just now!"
Chara laughed and to Serenity's ears her lovely voice was as clear and fresh as a river. "You don't believe that I'm really me?" she teased. "Then pray allow me to prove it!"
Serenity knew at once what she meant and almost instinctively she raised her hand and reached out with her palm facing outward. Chara did the very same thing and as they pressed their palms together the Princesses from the inner and outer galaxies completed their personal greeting.
"Well then?" Chara asked as their hands parted again. "What's the verdict? Am I really me or would you like a little more time to make up your mind?"
Serenity just gave a happy laugh. "Of course I know that you're you silly! I should know my best friend when I see her by now!"
"Well that's nice to know." Chara replied cheerfully. "I saw you looking for me when you arrived Serenity…did you like my little surprise?"
"I should have known what you had planned!" Serenity sighed shaking her head as she pretended to be resigned while all the time she was really fighting to keep herself from laughing. "You've always teased me since the day we met!"
"Does it upset you?" Chara asked and though she was grinning her voice now contained a slightly worried tone that the other Princess caught.
Princess Serenity stroked the back of her friend's head. "Of course it doesn't." she reassured the green-haired girl affectionately as she smiled and they both drew apart to look intently at each other. "I would not have it any other way. You know how I feel Chara and it's that feeling which makes us friends."
Chara's eyes twinkled and for a fleeting moment Serenity caught a glint of relief in them. Now that she was in full view Serenity looked at the dress that her friend was wearing and to her delight it was azure in colour and caught the bright light of the crystal chandeliers and turned the orange glow into an aura of pale blue which seemed to surround her like a heavenly glow.
Serenity was just so enchanted by it all - the warmth and glamour of the Ballroom, the giddiness of the butterflies in her stomach but most of all by the beauty of her friend who she had not seen for a long while. "Oh Chara…" she beamed. "I…I just don't know what to say…"
Chara's eyes were deep and her smile warm and affectionate. "That's disappointing! I spent the whole of my trip here wondering what you'd been planning to say when you saw me again!" she chuckled.
Serenity's smile became a little shy as she regarded Chara thoughtfully. "Well then…what were you thinking that I would say?" she murmured raising her eyebrows questioningly.
"Well I was expecting something like 'Goodness Chara you look even lovelier than you did the last time we met' but I suppose that I can make do with 'I can't believe you're here'." Chara grinned as her eyes laughed.
"Chara…" Serenity said slowly and a slightly annoyed expression crossed her face now. "Why did you take so long to get back in touch me with? What have you been doing since we last saw each other that can have taken up all of your time?"
Chara grinned at the sight of the frown on her friends face. "Oh very much indeed Serenity!" she exclaimed with a laugh. "You're right, I have been extremely busy after our last visit…and the reason I was so insistent that you come here tonight was so that you should finally know what it was that took up most of my days. After all I don't want you to feel as if I were leaving my friend out of the most wonderful change in my life!"
Embarrassed that Chara had guessed what had been on her mind Serenity grinned as she blushed. "It can't be that drastic a change!"
"You'll see! I have the most wonderful surprise for you to meet…"
Serenity thought about that – to MEET?
Then Princess Serenity simply smiled and felt happy to be with her best friend, the Princess of Pluto again - the two of them would deal with any changes in their lives as they found them or as the changes found THEM. "Chara…" she began and took her time as she enjoyed saying the name when it's owner was right there with her. "…I…"
"Good evening ladies." A smooth voiced purred treacly from behind them, interrupting their wonderful moment. "How are you both?"
The voice was smooth and clear but to both the Princesses it sounded as if the polished quality of it served only to mark the presence of a deeper undercurrent of nastiness.
The voice was unpleasant and almost made their stomachs turn but for some reason that neither of them understood they both turned around to face the person who had spoken to them - the young man who met their eyes with his own narrowed into cat-like slits had shoulder length hair that shone like strands of gold. He wore a milk-white tunic with a shoulder-padded silver cloak that shimmered in the candlelight.
The eyes of the young man seemed to contain the glint of gold and it might have been Chara's imagination but she was sure that whenever they caught the glow of the chandeliers his eyes glowed as if their pupils actually were made of gold.
As his eyes met her own Chara felt an involuntary shudder run through her although she quickly remembered her manners and hid it.
"Good evening." Serenity replied to the young man's greeting with great politeness but her friend noticed that her usual sweetness and charm had suddenly left her voice.
"How do you do?" Chara inquired as pleasantly as she could as she stood feeling immensely uncomfortable and awkward.
How rude this young man had been interrupting them in the middle of their private conversation…
The young man did not seem to think that the fact that he had disrupted their personal moment together mattered. "I can tell that I'm not as well as the both of you, your highnesses." He remarked with a suggestive smirk, as he spoke he took his time to run his eyes slowly up and down Serenity's body and then when he was done he switched his stare over to Chara who he also inspected appreciatively.
The two Princesses both went red with embarrassment as he stared them up and down. "You know who we are?" Chara asked hesitantly.
"I asked somebody when I saw you both." He smirked as the glint in his eyes deepened. "And I can tell you that ever since then I haven't been able to look at anybody else. Princess Serenity of the Lunar Moon and Princess Chara of Pluto every other girl and woman here looks drab in comparison to the two of you!"
Serenity and Chara stared at him in silence. They knew that he had intended that remark as a compliment but they also thought that it was an awful thing to say about all of the other young women who were here tonight.
Serenity had only known him for a short while now but already she knew that she didn't like him at all and Chara was feeling the exact same way.
When neither of them asked him who he was the young man with the golden hair introduced himself to them. "I am Prince Mu of planet Earth." He announced proudly and with a powerful note of arrogance in his voice. "And you two beautiful women are the loveliest I have ever seen before in my life."
Serenity gave an almost convulsive start and by her side Chara's eyes widened in utter dismay as they realised who he was.
Prince Mu's reputation was deeply unpleasant and neither of them liked the way in which he was eyeing them one little bit. Serenity would have folded her arms over her chest but she didn't want him to know that he was making her feel uncomfortable so she resisted the urge.
Mu gazed first at Serenity and then at Chara as though he were trying to make up his mind over one of them - and as it happened this was precisely what he was doing. "Princess Chara…let's dance!" he smirked as he held out his hand for her to take. "Come on…don't be shy now!"
Chara winced as she stared at his hand as though it was the blood-stained paw of a wolf but she knew that if she should refuse Mu's request then he would definitely take it as an insult. Since there were now so many people watching as the Princesses talked to him she didn't want anybody to think that she hadn't any manners.
Without a word she put her hand on his in a sweeping and graceful movement and allowed herself to be led off to a suitably wide area. As she was taken away Chara looked over her shoulder and met Serenity's eyes regretfully as their moment was well and truly ruined by Mu.
Serenity's face remained dignified and calm as she watched her friend being taken away from her but really she was filled with sorrow as the time she had looked forward to spending with Chara was so unexpectedly and firmly taken away from her.
Chara's expression was vague as she began to dance elegantly with Mu and her deep brown eyes were completely empty of pleasure or any kind of enjoyment. As far as the green-haired Princess was concerned this was common courtesy - not pleasure.
Mu felt the lack of pleasure in Chara as they danced and it rankled with him. Glancing over her shoulder he noticed Serenity standing a short distance away, watching them.
Now that she stood alone several men had followed Mu's example and surrounded Serenity but the Princess had eyes for her friend alone - and Mu's golden eyes smouldered as they narrowed.
"Your friend's waiting for you over there." He remarked for Chara's benefit and as he looked at her expressionless face a sour tinge crept into his voice.
Chara's face twitched as he referred to Serenity. "Oh?" she replied mildly as she tried to suppress her glad smile.
Her friend was waiting for her to come back…
"Oh yes." Mu purred as he watched her face carefully - he felt certain that he'd seen Chara's lips twitch upwards at the corners for a brief second when he'd mentioned Serenity. "The two of you seem to be quite good friends."
Mu knew that Chara would far rather be with the Lunar Princess than with him and that filled him with bitter enmity.
Chara gazed at him as she wondered what he could be getting at - she could see the sickly yellow fire glittering in his eyes as he stared at her so intently and she suddenly felt anxious to excuse herself and return to her friend at once.
"I really oughtn't leave Serenity on her own." She remarked cautiously. "I think that I should go back to her now…"
Mu's eyes narrowed slightly at this but when he replied his voice was still pleasantly - dripping with poisoned honey. "I'm sure that she just can't bear to be apart from her loyal companion for longer than a minute. I suppose that she was quite sincere when she told you earlier that she could spend such a long time looking at your beautiful face."
Chara forgot the excuse that she had been trying to form in her mind as she realised just what the Prince had said to her. "You…you heard what we were talking about?" she stammered, startled out of her composure.
Mu felt a little better as he saw the discomfort in her eyes - he had managed to make her feel as bad as she'd done to him and that made him feel in control. "That's right - I did." He assured her. "I listened to your touching little reunion earlier - so sweet!" he chuckled.
Chara's eyes hardened as her dismay and confusion turned to anger. "How DARE you!!!" she cried and her voice rose an octave as she snatched back her hands and glared furiously at him. "You had no right to intrude like that and listen to what passed between us!"
The Princess was so angry that she did not care who heard her - she felt violated as if he had watched her bathing.
"It's a free solar-system unless I'm very much mistaken." He retorted with a shrug. "And you know a real lady would do best to hold her tongue in public.
Chara's eyes narrowed at him as he made that remark. "It is your manners that are lacking!" she exclaimed in outraged anger. "A real man should be courteous of the privacy of others!"
Mu's eyes darkened in anger as the Princess questioned his manliness and now they seemed gold dissolving in fire. Chara did not let Mu think for a moment that his anger frightened her and as she glared at him in disgust she suddenly couldn't bear to look at him for another second. "I am going to go back to my friend now." She told him coldly. "Good evening Prince Mu."
Mu's eyes glittered unpleasantly and he breathed deeply. "Her highness will simply have to do without your company." He growled as he stepped towards her and took hold of her wrists. "I do not recall giving you permission to leave your highness."
Chara dug her nails into his skin and Mu's eyes narrowed furiously as he felt the warm trickle of blood as it ran down his wrists. "I do not need anybody's permission to withdraw my Lord…yours least of all." She told him contemptuously.
"As I told you I'm not yet done with you my Princess…" a malicious light entered his eyes and he edged his face near to Chara's as she felt her blood run cold at the look on his face. "…but on second thought perhaps your dear friend the Moon Princess would like to join us. After all…two Princesses shine with more beauty than one alone." He continued sickeningly as he moved his face closer to Chara's. "I like the idea of spending a little time alone with the two of you…you ARE both very close friends aren't you?"
Princess Chara had listened to more than she could stand and pulling one of her hands free she drew it back - without a moment of doubt about it she slapped Mu sharply across the face.
The 'crack' echoed through the Ball Room and the people who had looked away from the heated confrontation out of embarrassment or tact now looked back and watched breathlessly as Mu staggered back clutching his face dazedly.
Chara stared at him with cold anger in her face - she did not regret what she'd just done for even a second but though she was determined not to back down she felt apprehensive as she wondered what was going to happen next…
For a long while Mu could only lean back and hold his hand to his red cheek as it throbbed. His mind was numb and confused as he tried to figure out what had just happened.
Gradually as his shattered thoughts resolved he realised that his thoughts were not deceiving him - this Princess...this woman had actually dared to strike him. The unbearably long moment of shocked silence came to an end and behind his hand Mu's eyes narrowed in searing hate. Without warning he whirled back towards the Princess and with greased lightning reflexes he seized her dainty wrists in his hands and they were now rigid with fury.
Mu hissed menacingly as he dragged Chara so close to him that her face was inches away from his own as he hissed menacingly at her. "You'll be sorry for that my dear little Princess...oh yes. You'll regret that you did not keep a tighter rein of your hasty temper!"
Chara gasped as his hands tightened around her wrists with such intensity that he almost broke them. The green-haired Princess felt frozen with shock as he glared straight into her eyes with such burning enraged hatred.
"Let her go!!!" a frantic voice screamed from a short way off.
Serenity's face had become white with terror as she had watched Mu grab hold of Chara and without a seconds hesitation or indecision she pushed past the circle of young men who had surrounded her and ran straight over to help her friend without even pausing to apologise when she bumped into people.
Chara looked to one side and with a rush of relief she saw Serenity standing there now breathless with fear and excitement.
Serenity clenched her hands tightly and the look on her face was one of desperation as she stood before Mu - the Moon Princess had no idea what she should do but she knew that whatever she had to do she was going to help her friend. "Take your hands off her you coward!" she shouted desperately at Mu. "You're going to regret this! I swear that you will!"
Overcoming his initial shock in the face of Serenity's outburst Mu simply laughed in the Princess's face and in his mind he thought of an idea that appealed strongly to his malicious nature. "Don't concern yourself my beautiful Princess...of course I will release your dear friend." he leered insolently at her and then he raised his voice not to a shout but just an octave high enough to carry throughout the Ballroom and be heard by most of the people there. "Somebody really ought to give you both a lesson in manners but I won't cause a scene by being the person to educate you."
Serenity's lip curled in disgust - as if he had not caused them to become a spectacle already!
"And after all...I'm sure that you certainly don't want her to be touched be me do you?" he remarked suggestively. "You know...by a man?"
Serenity stared at him as she felt perplexed by his words. "W-What are you talking about?" she stammered as her anger was extinguished by her moment of confusion.
Satisfied that the majority of the people in the Ballroom could hear every single word that he said Mu laughed in the Princess' face. "It really doesn't matter at all your highness...I'll just leave you both in peace now. I know how much you mean to each other and I'm sure that I wouldn't like to ruin your special time together." his voice was mild but Chara and Serenity were both close enough to see the taunting expression on his face. "After all who knows when you will next be able to spend time together like this?"
At the very same moment Serenity and Chara understood what he was hinting at and as they did their faces burned deep crimson in humiliation - they were both helpless and there was nothing that they could do about it. Both of them knew perfectly well that should they rise to the bait and deny what Mu was trying to accuse them of then the people who were hanging on every word that passed between them would assume that they were trying to hide the fact that it was the truth.
Mu had not openly accused them but if either Chara or Serenity made an issue of this then it would seem to everybody else that they had something to hide. As it stood they could both feel the speculative eyes that had now become fixed on them and hear the suspicious whispers that were beginning to fill the corners of the room behind their backs.
Serenity felt sick to her stomach as she realised that she could do nothing but let Mu get away with what he had done...
Mu understood what she was thinking as he looked at her crestfallen lilac eyes and he bestowed a sneering grin upon her as he gloated silently over her misery...but his glee did not last long. A firm hand fell upon his shoulder with a strong grip that suggested that it wouldn't be letting go again in a hurry. Mu's leer froze and slowly his eyes sidled to one side to see who now stood behind him. Chara thought that the look on Mu's face ressembled that of a little boy caught tormenting a dog that was chained up.
Serenity's equally startled eyes followed the hand up to the arm that it belonged to as she momentarily forgot all about what was happening.
Standing behind Mu was a tall and very grim-faced young man in a long and flowing light-blue cloak. His poise was majestic and his bearing regal as he held the Prince's shoulder in a firm grip. As she gazed at the newcomer, spellbound, Chara found herself suddenly lost for words as she caught her breath. However unlike a moment ago this was a wholly different experience which she actually found pleasant...
This young man had sea blue hair which shone like a beautiful river in the warm glow of the Ballroom. His face had a handsome modesty that Serenity found appealing, but it was his eyes which made the creme-haired Princess gaze captivated, all the more so because Serenity felt suddenly certain that she should know him though she could not quite put her finger on when that had been and what his name was…meanwhile Chara's face had broken into a grin of relief and she seemed to be waiting for something.
The eyes of the young man were so serious and deep but at the same time they were passionate as he directed his deeply intense stare at Mu who now stared at him completely stunned. Mu's arrogance now seemed to have dried up completely in the face of this new and unexpected turn of events as he stared blankly at the dashing newcomer.
Eventually the man with the shimmering hair spoke and his voice was grave and firm. "I think that this disgrace has gone on for long enough." he remarked with contempt as he addressed Mu. "And I suggest that you unhand this young woman...now."
There was no threatening tone in his voice but really he didn't need to try to be menacing for the determination that his voice carried did enough. His grim eyes gave everybody who heard his voice the impression that it would not be a sensible idea to treat him light-heartedly.
Mu was shaken that he was actually being confronted but he struggled to retrieve his dignity. "Would you care to take your hand off me please?" he snapped back although now his voice clearly wavered.
The young stranger's eyes remained firmly level with Mu's and his hand showed no sign of stirring from it's place on the Prince's shoulder. "I'll do that for you...as soon as you set the example by unhanding her highness." he responded coldly.
Mu was at a total loss for what to do as he stood faced with the contemptuous newcomer who had accosted him. "Who do you think you are friend?" he spat, angry but too much a coward to be aggressive about it. "Why do you insist on interfering in what doesn't concern you? Do you fashion yourself to be some sort of 'hero' out to save the world? Stay away from me 'hero'...you know that this has nothing to do with you."
The young man merely gave him a look of scornful disgust as he passed these words over without reaction. "Mu...I don't think that you can possibly realise just how little I actually care about what you think of me." he replied with cutting contempt in his voice. "And you're right...what you do is of no interest to me whatsoever. But threatening a young woman who came here to cherish the time she has with her friend tonight...that just isn't done." his eyes gleamed coldly at the prince and now there was an alarming expression in them. "And that does concern me." he concluded darkly as he tightened his grip on Mu's shoulder. "Now release Princess Chara...or I'll make you wish so much that you'd been chivalrous enough to stay away from these lovely young women in the first place. After all I consider it most improper for you to be handling my fiancée in such a manner…don't you?"
Serenity reeled, momentarily forgetting what was happening in the shock that this last remark sparked within her…what?!!
As the people who had been watching the confrontation caught this morsel it spread quickly through their ranks – none of them had heard that Princess Chara was betrothed to the well-known young man who had come to the rescue of she and Serenity and by the next morning the news would be spread throughout the galaxy as the party-goers returned to their homeworlds to talk about it.
Mu's face was sheer white as he realised that his maliciously sewed rumour had been pulled up by the roots before it had, had the chance to take root – and indeed he was now faced with the consequences of handling Chara, the fiancée of the man who he recognized from description and at the thought of what he had done getting around he shuddered.
Serenity and Chara smiled as they both let his words wash over them. Serenity blushed a pretty pink shade as she gazed at the brave young man who had come to her assistance in her time of need. The young man with the shining blue hair had quite literally taken her breath away and she found that she could not tear her eyes away from his serious face. For a long while Mu stared at the young man in silence as he realised that he was deadly serious. Without a word Mu let go of Chara's delicate wrists.
As Princess Chara stepped away from him and traced the tender area of her wrist where she had been so tightly gripped with her finger Serenity put her arm protectively around her shoulder as she felt relieved that it was all over. Mu glowered at them both like at a spiteful cat that had just watched the escape of the mouse it had been chasing. They both looked so happy and contented standing together like that...
The Prince just couldn't allowed either of them to walk way from this without paying for his humiliation. The malevolent streak in his vindictive nature could never allow it. "Perhaps one day I will teach YOU your proper place..." he spat venomously at Serenity who he judged to be 'safe' since she wasn't soon to be wed to this man, then he smirked suggestively in readiness for a final taunt. "Now I'll just let the you to be be alone with your friend...I suppose that you would both like to express your last regrets together before the wedding."
Mu made to turn and walk arrogantly away...but he did not take a single step away from where he stood. The stranger's eyes had been calm up until now but as he heard that one last taunt they flared up in anger. As Mu moved away he reached forward and grabbed the arrogant young man by the shoulder again and whirled him roughly around to pierce his eyes with an intense stare. Mu's eyes were blank as they took in the anger in the blue-haired man's face. Then he fell back stunned senseless and staggered back to lean against a wall.
Breathing heavily the young man who had just punched Mu in the face with as much force as he had been able to muster gave the young prince one last look of scorn and then turned to face Serenity and Chara.
"I think it might be safe to assume that he won't be troubling you again any time soon my Princesses." he told them with a smile as he appreciated their beauty. "Or ever again if he learns anything from tonight. Are you alright Princess?" he asked as concern filtered into his handsome face and he turned to look intently at the Princesses.
"Yes...thank you so much for helping her." Serenity's smile was also full of sheer gratitude. "We are in your debt good sir."
"No..." he smiled slightly bashfully as he averted his eyes. "It was nothing really...that man offended me in the first place and when I saw him laying hands on her highness I resolved to teach him a lesson in common courtesy towards women." he looked againat Chara as the anxiety returned to his face. "Are you certain that you'll be alright now?" he pressed unable to rest easily until he was sure.
"Of course I will!" Chara's pleasant blush deepened and Serenity could see that her friend felt happy that he was so anxious about her well being.
"She's right...I'll look after her." Serenity assured him. "Thank you again for what you did for her." then she remembered what she had heard a moment ago, the startling news that had been driven out of her mind by the confrontation and gasped. "Chara...you AREN'T!" she exclaimed loudly but this time she raised her voice out of astonishment.
Chara laughed as her friend finally realised it. "Oh indeed I am Serenity...this magnificent fellow and I are engaged to be married as soon as I come of age." she said beaming. "It was all arranged since the last time I saw you...that was why I had so little time for you my friend and so I decided to make it up to by bringing him along so you could finally meet the one who I will soon wed."
Serenity smiled, forgetting any sadness that she herself inevitably felt deep down at the thought of her friend settling down for good and marrying. "Well...it was most lucky that you happened along when you did good sir." she remarked for the young man's benefit. "Chara, are you...?"
"Positive!" Chara exclaimed. "Oh I know, I know, when I returned home to find that I had an ARRANGED marriage to look forward to I felt humiliated but when I saw him again after all those years..." she breathed a sigh and simply quivered in happy expectation.
Serenity smiled and did not reply - she knew that this was about Chara not about her and it helped the numb the pain of the loss that she knew lay ahead for them both...a little. "And may I know the name of the man who my friend will share the rest of her life with?"
The young man paused and turned back to them and grinned dashingly at the crème-haired Princess who waited patiently for his answer. "My name your highness..." he began politely. "...is Char, Prince of the Outer Moon Charon. It was good to meet you again after hearing so much about you from Chara now I shall leave you both to enjoy the rest of the evening in peace. Good night to you both!"
And a short way off behind the now happy and assured Princesses, Prince Mu also stared bitterly in the direction that Char had taken and his black heart seethed with fury.
This would cost that fool dearly one day...
Mu swore that one day Prince Char would pay for humiliating him this night...
The room seemed to have become warmer as Queen Serenity's beautiful voice came to a period of thoughtful silence now that her story was told. Universe was lost for words as she thought about the story that the Queen of the Moon had just told her - during the tale of Serenity's youth the Princess's eyes had become distant as she had imagined everything that she had been told perfectly in her mind's eye.
"So…" Universe realised that it was up to her to break the silence and so she did. "…that's what happened."
Queen Serenity looked at her with a deep emotion in her eyes. "Yes." She breathed and almost unbidden a smile touched her slightly thoughtful face. "I remember that night as clearly as the first time I saw the stars in the sky. But it is strange Universe - you see it is a very important memory for me. I wouldn't give it up for the world because it was the night that I saw how much Chara loved Char and was certain that he loved her…I knew at once that they would be perfectly happy together."
"At least YOUR story had a happy ending." Universe broke in, her voice verging on being frantic. "But MINE…" she trailed off into miserable silence and averted her eyes again.
Queen Serenity bowed her head and sighed deeply. "Universe…I feel certain that Mu did what he did to hurt ME. He probably spent every spare moment he had since that night waiting for a chance to pay us back for his humiliation…"
"So when he found out who I was and where I came from he saw his chance…" Universe muttered as she looked directly at Serenity's face. "…and he took it."
Queen Serenity sighed sorrowfully and her shoulders sagged a little. "Yes…I am afraid so." She admitted and then shook her head in growing distress. "Oh I cannot help but feel responsible for how much you have been hurt tonight." She exclaimed, startling Universe with the intensity of her feelings. "You are suffering now because of the quarrel that Chara and I had with Mu in the past he should not have hurt you to get to me! That was wrong…"
"It wasn't your fault." Universe muttered as she leaned deeper into the Lunarian's arm. "You did exactly what I did Queen Serenity…stood up for your friend. There's nothing wrong about that."
Queen Serenity gazed at her and felt relieved by what she had said. "So do you forgive me?" she asked, anxiety clear in her voice.
"Sure."
Queen Serenity's eyes relaxed and she smiled thankfully as she stroked Universe's shoulders again, taking her time as she ran her hand along the girl's skin. "I am glad." She replied softly. "I could not bear to think that you felt angry with me…"
"Why would I be?" Universe asked quietly as she looked up at her. "It's not your fault they'll all hate me because I'm too low and pathetic for them to think of me any other way…" she lowered her eyes and then added softly. "…and I won't be able to stay here now will I?"
Serenity stopped short with a sharp intake of breath as she realised what Universe had just said. Looking at her there was now severe expression on her face. "Universe that is not true at all!" she told her sharply.
"But of course it is!" Universe argued, her eyes were anguished as she turned them to meet those of the Lunarian. "You know who I really am…what I am." The bitterness in her voice was aimed at herself rather than anybody else. "Why shouldn't anybody see me as anything but a wandering huntress with no name of her own and whose own parents didn't want her?"
There was a long silence and she assumed that Queen Serenity had nothing so say in return. But then she felt Serenity's fingers being placed beneath her chin and tilting her head back so that their eyes met. The look in Serenity's eyes shocked Universe and left her lost for breath - as she gazed deeply into the girl's brown eyes the Queen's face was stern but there was also the plain hint of anger in it. "Now just you listen to me. Do not let me hear you saying such degrading things about yourself EVER again." Serenity told her sternly and there was anger at the very edge of her voice. "Do you understand me Universe?"
Universe gazed dumbly at her she actually felt a little frightened by the intensity in the Queen's eyes and was at a total loss for words as she remained locked within Serenity's gaze, unable to look away.
Seeing her like this Serenity's eyes became gentler as did her voice as she took her finger from beneath Universe's chin now that it was no longer needed to hold her gaze. "Universe…I know that you are afraid right now and I understand that perfectly." She told her softer than before. "But know something else. I will never let anything bad happen to you. This is your home now…always remember that Universe."
"I…" Universe began to murmur.
"No Universe - hear me out." Serenity hushed her as she continued. " You are a wonderful girl and have a good heart. Everybody who matters will see that through your past. Whatever happens from tonight you must always remain strong. Remember that."
Universe was almost mesmerised by the conviction in Serenity's face, shining in her eyes and ringing in her voice. And in her shocked frame of mind she could not hold back the thought that had been eating away at her ever since she had stumbled into this room. "Queen Serenity…I'm scared!" she cried. "I'm so scared!"
"I know that you are Universe. But you must not look upon life so fearfully." Serenity comforted as she reached down took Universe's hands into her own and looked deeply into her eyes. "Trust me Universe. I cannot show you the way forward now but I know in my heart that as long as you remain strong then you shall find it for yourself." Her voice was now kindly and reassuring once more.
Universe lowered her eyes and tried to think about this but found that her mind was just too numbed by the events of the night and the intensity of the emotions she had just felt. A memory of something that had happened tonight occurred to her and worried her. "Is Charon okay?" she asked quietly as she returned her eyes to Serenity again.
Queen Serenity smiled and nodded in assurance. "Of course she is Universe. Charon has simply caught the cold but she has been put to bed and will most likely be completely recovered by the morning." Her voice became a little quieter as she added. "You know Universe, Charon has been asking for you. Why not go and see her?"
Universe's lips parted as she wavered but then she shook her head quickly. "No…I can't see any of them…" she muttered miserably.
Queen Serenity felt sad but she nodded understanding and accepting Universe's decision.
"I'm sorry for that scene back there." Universe suddenly began quietly. "I ruined everything…"
Serenity just smiled. "Don't be silly!" she exclaimed firmly. "It doesn't matter at all. And you did nothing wrong. You acted as you did because you care for Charon and Estrella and didn't want to see or hear anybody harming them. I am proud of you Universe and I think well of you for the way in which you stood up to him so bravely. Don't feel ashamed of yourself for your deeds or actions my dear Princess for you are perfect the way you are and I do not ever desire for you to change yourself." She stroked Universe's hand gently as she looked at her with that same warm smile on her face. "I want you to always stay just the way you are now Universe."
Universe was taken-aback by the passion in the Queen's voice as she had said all of this but a small part of her which was at it's strongest right then refused to let it end like that. "How's that? Rough, foul-mouthed n' rude?" she asked with her faintest remaining traces of bitterness.
Queen Serenity simply gazed at her and then breathed her reply that came from her heart. "Caring, brave and with a kind and loving heart."
Universe was now silent and just nodded mutely, she was now feeling too drained to say anything more and seeing the tiredness written all over her face the Lunarian's eyes became concerned. "I really think that it is time you went to bed." She said firmly as she took hold of Universe's shoulders and rose to her feet drawing the purple-haired Princess up with her to stand on her feet again for the first time since she had found her here. "Come - I will walk with you to your room."
Unnoticed by the Queen the very beginning of a tiny wry smile flickered at the corner of Universe's lips. Her room…so now she she'd finally know where it was. Not that she cared…she didn't care about anything anymore.
Universe allowed Queen Serenity to put her arm around her shoulders and lead her out of the room and along the corridor. As they walked Universe suddenly turned her head sideways to look at Serenity. "You're wrong ya know." She muttered in a husky voice. "They won't accept me now…not after this…"
Queen Serenity gave her a calm, soothing look. "That's enough talk for tonight sweet-heart." She told Universe. "We'll talk about it in the morning when you are in a more reasonable mood."
Universe fell into silence but only because she didn't care to break the silence this time. Together they walked up the stairs without another word and along another corridor and eventually stopped outside the door to Universe's room.
Here Serenity removed her arm from around Universe and turned to face her one more time. "Sleep. You will feel very much better about it in the morning." She reached out and patted Universe on the cheek affectionately. "Goodnight Universe."
"Right." Universe did not sound convinced. "Goodbye Queen Serenity."
Serenity furrowed her brow in puzzlement - that had not sounded quite right somehow. "'Goodbye'?" she wondered out loud. "Don't you mean 'goodnight'?"
Beside her Universe stiffened as she realised what she had just said. "Probably…"
Before Serenity had a chance to reply Universe quickly moved forward and opened the door. Serenity watched sympathetically as her purple-haired charge went inside the room and closed the door behind her.
Poor Universe…how could Mu do something so cruel and heartless?
The memory of Universe's face so heartbroken and devoid of light and her eyes so empty of hope continued to haunt her and Serenity could only hope that she would be strong enough to cope with what she knew was now inevitably to come. With one last long look at the door Queen Serenity turned and walked away towards the top of the stairway - intending to go and visit Princess Charon one last time before she herself got some much needed rest.
Inside her room Universe leant heavily back against the door she had not taken one step away from since she had walked in as the solitary tear that she had not wanted Queen Serenity to see rolled slowly down her cheek even though she had scrunched her eyes as tightly closed as she could.
Queen Serenity did not realise it but this was in fact the first time that Universe had ever been here. For since the day she had first arrived in the Moon Kingdom Universe had slept out in Princess Charon's garden rather in the room that the Queen had had prepared for her. Universe had felt overawed by such things and deep down she knew that the reason she had chosen to sleep outside was so that she could hold onto one piece of the independence she had mostly relinquished when she had come here and become a Princess.
But Universe did not take even a look at the room around her - everything before her may as well have been invisible for she had come to a decision which filled her with misery but seemed to her to be the only thing she could do. She knew what she was going to do…she would go. She would go back to the Star Raiders and her old life tonight.
Universe could not bear to be surrounded by disgust, to be an object of disdain and scorn. And she felt certain that even Mercury would not want to be seen with her now that the truth was known. Universe couldn't bear that. It would be just to horrible to lose the warmth of the Mercurian's kindness and friendship - to see her every day and watch as she caught her gaze and turned away from her.
I must go back now… she told herself sorrowfully. …back to the violence and aggression of the life of the hunter…
And she bowed her head and wept silently in the darkness all around her…and in her heart.
~*~*~
It was midnight when Universe finally left her room and began the sorrowful walk back to the dressing room. Since the hour was so late the purple-haired girl knew that she would not be questioned along the way for the only people still awake were the guards patrolling the palace grounds outside.
Universe stepped into the dressing room and closed the door behind her almost mechanically. Looking down at herself she sighed with real regret and shook her head. The dress had been given to her by Queen Serenity - she had no right to take it and anyway she was going back to the Star Raiders so…
Universe blushed at the thought of any of them seeing her in a dress and without another thought she undressed. First she slipped her arms out of the shoulder length gloves with the greatest of care and put them on the surface of the dresser. Then she reached behind her back and pulled the gown up and over her head until she was holding it in her hands. Universe gave the dress one last wistful look and then with a sigh that said more than words ever could she folded it up with great care and respect and put it on the dresser on top of the gloves. Bitterly she slid her hands behind her head and slowly undid the violet ribbon that she had tied about her hair just to make herself absolutely perfect in Mercury's eyes and placed it down on the dresser. Finally she slipped out of the elegant white shoes and put them on the floor at the foot of the dresser.
As she stood naked in the middle of the room Universe took a moment to think about what she was doing here. Having cast away the garments of her new life she was now about to re-garb herself in the trappings of the old.
Forcing herself to stop thinking about it since she knew it would only make what she was doing unbearable Universe walked over to the wardrobe and took hold of the brass door-handle, turning it in her hand. As the wardrobe door swung open she glanced around its interior and when she looked down she saw her old clothes lying at the bottom. Folded up were the short brown top and the frayed skirt and beside them were her old knee-length leather boots.
The memory came back to her of how nervous she had been about her clothes during the first couple of weeks she'd spent here, how worried and paranoid she'd been about them being thrown out while she wasn't looking...
A few days before Emperor Mu's visit to the Moon Kingdom..
"Xizor?"
The ambassador of the Moon Kingdom had been deep in thought as he had stepped out of her Majesty's throne-room having just received her appointment of his new task - a trip to the planet Earth. The Queen of the Moon had instructed him to journey to the planet that was so near to their Kingdom and yet the one that was least visited by the Lunarians and deliver to Emperor Mu her invitation to visit her home the following week.
It was a prospect that he didn't relish in the slightest but after all it was his job and so he'd been worrying his head off as he'd stepped into the corridor…so much so that he'd almost collapsed with surprised as Princess Universe had stepped out from behind a corner and stood directly in his path. "Ah! Ah, your Highness…ah!" Xizor gasped as he gave a convulsive start and stopped. "Ah…that is to say, how may I be of assistance?"
Universe studied him, an odd unreadable kind of look on her face as she considered whether or not she should say what was on her mind. "Where are my clothes?" she suddenly asked plainly.
The question seemed most unusual. "Well there they are…there." He replied in some confusion as he pointed at Universe's bodice and then with a blush he redirected his finger to her stomach. "…your Highness." He hastily added.
Universe almost seemed reassured by his manner for some reason and she instantly relaxed. "No, I'm talking about the clothes I was wearing when I first came here." She smirked as she folded her arms. "What happened to them?"
Xizor made a little 'oh' sound as he understood. "Why they should be right where Katarina put them your Highness." He told her helpfully.
Universe nodded, her expression satisfied. "Thanks." She replied gratefully as she moved past the bewildered man. "Oh and Xizor…this conversation never happened."
Xizor watched her go as he struggled to cope with what had just happened…whatever it might have actually been. "Oh…didn't it your Highness?" he muttered in a vague kind of way and Universe shook her head and smiled…
...the smirk on her face now was bitter in contrast to the wry smile that she'd worn then. Back then she'd still been determined that she'd only be here until either she grew too sick and tired to remain for a minute longer or else the people here were fed up with her and asked her to leave. Strange that it hadn't quite worked out that way...
Gathering the garments up in her arms Universe turned away from the wardrobe and one by one she put them all back on for the first time in many months. Firstly she slid into the skirt and then wrapped the top around her chest and slid the narrow ties through it and tied them in a knot. Once she had done this she sat down and slid her feet into the black boots. With a sudden curiosity she looked towards the full-length mirror and saw herself...
Universe remembered how Katarina had brought her back to this room after bathing her and washing her hair all those months ago to show her how she looked. A wry and affectionate smile turned the corner of her lips slightly as she remembered how horrified she had been by her new 'pretty' appearance at first.
But now as she saw her reflection she found that it just wasn't what she had expected at all. Instead of being transformed back into the 'wild-girl' leader of the Star Raiders she had once been what felt now to her like a lifetime ago Universe she just looked…strange.
Incomplete…rough even.
With clean skin and her hair cascading down to her waist completely clean of dirt or dry blood she realised that she looked strange in her old clothes. Somehow that made her feel sadder than before…it was as if she was now neither a Princess nor a Star Raider.
Doubt filled her now stricken eyes as a nasty thought occurred to her…could she now not go back to her old life?
Deep down however Universe knew that the question she was asking herself was really whether or not she WANTED to…and she knew the answer though she tried to silence it, Universe closed her eyes sadly but sternly told herself over and over again that she had to go through with this now that she had started it. When she opened her brown eyes again they were hard but flat and lacked their usual spark...even the Lyanore-light that sparkled in them seemed bleak.
Turning away from the mirror that she could no longer bear to look at she moved towards the door…there were still a few things left for her to do before she…
Universe shook her head as she opened the door and stepped out again into the corridor…she didn't want to think about leaving the Moon Kingdom. The thought of what she was now doing was bitter and she tried to forget about it by thinking of what she was going to need to do before she went. She'd need to stop by the guard's armoury and grab her spear and then visit the parlour to get some provisions for her journey.
Her hair would have to wait for later - she was already going to run the risk of being caught so she would have to take care of it when she was well away. Ten minutes later Universe stood in the parlour wearing Gafgarion on her back in its leather shoulder-straps even though it somehow didn't feel as good between her shoulder-blades as she had once expected it to. Now the narrow leather straps felt like iron chains and the spear felt like a heavy weight dragging her down…
In her hand she held a lilac bag in which she had put a few chickens and some glass bottles that she planned to fill with water on her way out of the palace. A faint frown creased her face as she looked at the bag she was holding in her hands. She had not taken much - only enough to see her to the nearest planet if she was careful with it. But all the same it still felt like stealing to take it without asking…
The thought of Queen Serenity and the others thinking that the last thing she had done was to steal whatever she could before she left made her feel sick but she knew that she could not go anywhere without anything to eat and drink along the way. But again she froze and became lost in thought…why was she worried about not being able to leave?
The purple-haired girl did not want to leave the Moon Kingdom…just the thought of never seeing any of her friends again filled her with sadness and loss and she didn't think about Queen Serenity because she knew that if she did she would not be able to go. Then Universe shook herself and slung the bag decisively over her shoulder…it was time to go.
A feeling of regret stole over her as she wished for the first time in her life that she could write. Universe wanted to at least leave a note that one of them could find. It could have thanked Queen Serenity for having her here and apologise for running off without a word. It came as a bitter stab when Universe remembered how she had promised the Queen that she would not leave without a word and that if she went ahead with this then she would be breaking that promise. Also a note could have helped to assure Mercury and Charon that her friendship with them remained just as strong as it had ever been and always would…
Then the purple-haired girl smiled faintly. "I bet even Jupiter can read and write…" Universe muttered to herself.
It was no use thinking about it when it couldn't happen…she couldn't even write her name so it was as simple as that. And it was now that something struck her for the first time - something very important which she had not once thought about until now. Once she was out of the Moon Kingdom what was she going to call herself? The brown-eyed girl stood numbly in the dim light of the parlour and thought about this…was she going to become Rula again?
It felt strange…she had felt indignant at first when Queen Serenity had suggested giving her a new name but now… Universe realised that she did feel sad at letting go of her 'Princess' name - one more of the many things that Serenity had given her and she would be leaving behind here…
Turning on her heel Universe walked out of the parlour and made her way down the corridor and as she walked she again pushed her sorrowful thoughts out of her mind by thinking of action. There would be guards on patrol but she was confident that she'd easily be able to slip past them without being seen. Eventually she came to a stop in front of a long-forgotten wooden door. It led out into a secluded area of the palace grounds where the number of guards on patrol was lowest since none of the newer and younger guards knew of the door's existence. Universe had stumbled across during her first week after coming to the Moon Kingdom - when she had had nothing to do all day but explore the long passageways of the palace since she had had nobody to talk to…
Anxiously Universe took hold of the old brass doorknob…and her hand stopped. This was it…she was on the verge of walking out on everything she had now and the only people left in her life who she loved right now.
Love…how strange it felt. Universe had never liked to admit that she ever felt any emotions towards people least of all affection - when she had been young Dirk's frequent beatings of her had caused her to grow up always feeling wary of other people and suspicious about their 'feelings'.
After the death of Steel-Eye she had been scornful whenever any of the Star Raiders tried to gain her affection and when the sun had set on the day Vaura had died her feelings had been left crippled…and almost dead as dead as her friend the Lyanore. But during the time she had lived here in happiness and without needing to fight to protect her own life Universe knew that those feelings had returned and the friendships that she had gained had nurtured them…kept them alive.
Taking a deep breath as she gazed back down the dimly lit passageway that led into the palace where her friends now slept peacefully and unaware that she was now leaving them she made her final farewells in the silence of her mind. Queen Serenity…thank you for everything. She thought gratefully and sorrowfully and closed her eyes in respect. You've done so much for me…I don't know what to say. I never lived up to being 'Princess Universe'…I'm sorry. You shouldn't have wasted your time with me…I'm no good to you. Goodbye…and thank you for caring.
Her lower lip quivered and then her whole body began to tremble as she thought about never seeing those wonderful lilac eyes again - for a brief moment Universe desperately wanted to go and find Queen Serenity, throw her arms around her and tell her everything…how she was feeling and the horrible guilt that she had always felt ever since she had left Charon…anything to be able to speak to her.
It was agony to deny herself what she truly wanted but she did with an incredible exertion of raw will. As Universe fought with herself to stop her feet from walking back up the corridor to find the Queen her shoulders slumped heavily. Mercury…I'll miss you. Just forget that I was ever a part of your life…you're better off not knowing me. Be happy and stay as sweet as you are…always.
Charon… Thank you for trying to understand me. Not a lot of people ever bothered to try to look into my heart or know the real me. I won't forget you…not ever. Even when I'm old…sorry, I won't get to tell you all about my life just as I promised I would. She lowered her head silently and closed her eyes tightly in bitterness. I'll be too busy living it…
Estie… Sorry about this. I wish that I could stay and see you when you grow up to be Queen Serenity's most trusted advisor…I know that you will be so just try not to remember me - just concentrate on being the best that I know you'll be. See ya…forgive me for being a coward if you can.
With one last huge effort Universe turned away and desperate to be enveloped by them she stepped through the old door and out into the shadows of the world outside…