Chapter Twenty-Six

A New Destination: Charon!

The following morning in the Moon Kingdom...

Breathing a sigh as she descended the red-velvet carpeted marble stairway Queen Serenity mused about how strange it was that though early morning in her Kingdom was very little different from the middle of the night as far as the sky was concerned the air was very cool and fresh that morning.

As she had awoken she had caught a breath of it from the window that she had left slightly open during the night and now she felt eager to step out into it and breath more – however as she headed towards the archway that lead out into the gardens which were clear in the morning starlight a voice hailed her, "Your Majesty – good morning!"

Serenity pursed her lips as she came to a halt at the very threshold of the archway – the crooning voice had made her skin crawl but knowing who it was she turned around, the skirt of her gown fluttering, to meet the gaze of her guest. "Lady Ashral." She said courteously yet with very little warmth.

Ashral smiled graciously as the Queen joined her resignedly. "Why you ARE looking well today Majesty!" she remarked brightly – this was a shocking lie since Serenity's face was marked by the days of strain and care that had followed the night of Emperor Mu's visit and yet the Lunarian Queen's expression did not stray from the mask of courtesy.

"You are also looking well your Ladyship." Serenity replied in a polite but firmly neutral tone.

Ashral smiled, very pleased by her own interpretation of the Queen's greeting. "Well now…I have been busy with running the affairs of my estate for the last week or two." The Lunarian noblewoman said brightly as her hostess stood gazing passively at her and then, fixing her sly and searching eyes on Serenity's face, she asked, "How have YOUR affairs been since our last little chat your Majesty?"

Serenity pursed her lips even harder – ever since Emperor Mu had come to her Kingdom and left heartache and very little sleep for the Queen in his wake Duchess Ashral had worn an expression of unforgivable satisfaction and smugness on her face whenever she had attended Court. Whenever she met any of the Princesses she would ask them about the subject of Princess Universe and whether she would be rejoining them soon…it was clear to anybody who saw the eagerness in her eyes that she would have been very glad indeed to see Universe again after the spectacle that had taken place on the night that she had run away from the Moon Kingdom.

With a set and dignified face Serenity resolved to put off her desire to take in the morning air – and resigned herself for a chat with Ashral first thing in the morning. What with everything that she had been handling recently such as preparations for and against the possibility of war against the Dark Kingdom and finding the runaway Princess she had forgotten about 'the visit'. Every other week Ashral made a point of dropping around the palace for a chat and maybe even dinner and feeling obliged to show courtesy to the head of a noble family of her Kingdom Serenity always welcomed her with good grace and hospitality…however as of late the Queen had found it more and more difficult to maintain her courtesy to the Duchess.

" Oh nothing has changed significantly since I last had the pleasure of your company my Lady." Serenity replied as she kept her face so polite that it was practically empty of any actual expression – she knew that she was stretching the truth somewhat but after all it was quite true since the precarious situation, teetering between war and peace, had not changed at all recently and anyway she saw no reason at all why she ought to discuss her affairs with the nosy noblewoman.

Ashral smiled and like a predator she leaned in for the kill as it were. "And the matter of our lost lamb Princess Universe?" she murmured, her mouth turning up into what she thought to be a smile of concern yet showed up on her face more as an eager smirk as she fished for the latest gossip about her least favourite member of the Royal Court.

Serenity pursed her lips even more tightly together than ever as she resolved to keep her temper – she now realised just how especially difficult it must have been for Universe to talk to this infuriating woman who was always peeling away at people affairs for details about private things that were no business of hers. After all if SHE herself found it such an annoyance then for Universe it must have been…

"What of it your Grace?" Serenity asked almost demurely.

"Oh come now, surely you must have SOME idea about where she is?" Ashral persisted, determined not to give up – she was proud of her role as gossip-spreader and she was always keen to glean something new especially if it was about somebody for whom she had no great liking. "Strictly between you and I of course your Majesty?"

…and anybody else you should happen to tell. Serenity thought witheringly as she felt her goodwill, or what little remained of it, wearing thinner and thinner. "I am afraid that at present I still have no idea." She answered almost grimly.

Ashral gazed at her for a moment and then a sympathetic look crossed her face. "You know, you really must not blame yourself Majesty." She said knowingly. "You cannot be held responsible for her behaviour."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Oh you know – Princess Universe. You may remember that I expressed the opinion to you during our discussion about her recklessly volatile behaviour shortly after her arrival here that she was clearly not suitable to live in our Kingdom let alone be a member of your Court…" Serenity stared at the prattling woman and as she listened to the Duchess's evaluation of Universe she felt her mask of calm slowly slipping away. "…she has most likely rejoined those lawless Star Ranger friends of hers. To think of a girl her age amongst so many grown men…ugh, SO improper!" Ashral went on with a theatrical shudder. "I must say that I think it a wonder that you do not despair of that girl your Majesty, I honestly do. I must say that if I were her Guardian then I would not tolerate such immodesty, such foul language, such disobedience…"

Queen Serenity's fraying temper finally gave. "Lady Ashral…" she snapped irritably as she threw courtesy to a visitor to the winds. "…you are a donkey!"

Ashral had been pulled along by the flow of her own spirited disapproval of Princess Universe but at this remark from her Queen she was brought up sharp and blinked in shock. "Your…your Majesty?" she stammered dazedly as she wondered if her ears had deceived her.

"A donkey." Serenity repeated firmly as she turned away from the shocked noblewoman and made her way towards the archway a satisfied smile crossing her face as she came away from doing something that she had very much fantasised about for many years but had never been in the right frame of mind to actually do…until this morning.

Suddenly the cool air of the garden was a much more attractive prospect than it had seemed a couple of minutes ago.

~*~*~

Meanwhile on Earth - The village of the Freeborn...

"Are you feeling okay?" Jess asked in a voice that was unusually worried.

The girl she had just addressed was Emilia who had just walked out of Orlando's house alongside Rula – the dark-haired girl had just been of inestimable help in freeing the huntress from the accursedly tight leather straps of the diabolically-hard-to-slip-out-of-top that she'd been forced into the night before and she was now dressed in her own garb.

"Thanks Em." Rula said gratefully as she smoothed the side of her skirt – her beloved spear also rode between her shoulders again. "Want me to return the favour?"

The dark-haired girl sighed – she was still wearing her slave-costume having fainted and been carried to bed the night before. "That's okay – I'll do it myself in a while." She replied with a yawn.

Rula looked at her in concern. "Jess has a point…are you okay? You look like holy-hell girl!"

Emilia's face was still very haggard and drawn after her tremendous effort the night before – the effort that she had undergone in order to save her friends from the Marauders had told so heavily on her that two faint grey circles ringed her droopy eyelids. "Of course…" she sighed and then yawned out of sheer tiredness – she felt like she could drop off right where she was standing as long as she didn't mind the tumble. "Just give me a day – and maybe an extra week to go with it – and I'll be fighting fit again in no time flat."

Orlando noticed that Rula's eyebrows were raised and breathed a long and deep sigh. "Well, well…Emilia's little secret is out then." He acknowledged ruefully. "At least we can TRUST you to keep it safe for her anyway…"

Rula passed over the obvious jab at Darien and Jadeite and instead she turned her eyes towards Emilia whose own gaze dropped instinctively. "I had a feeling about you all along." She admitted with an understanding nod. "But I didn't know for sure – now I can see that my suspicion was right. Emilia…you got Jess out of danger when the Marauders attacked yesterday just the same way that you helped us all out last night didn't you?"

Emilia hesitated to meet her awaiting eyes but she slowly tilted her face and nodded as she looked at the huntress. "Yeah…that was when Mu caught me." She admitted. "He'd seen what I could do and saw me as a chance to test out the Anti-Magic collar that you're now wearing in my place."

Almost without thinking about it Rula touched the metal collar at her neck but she simply nodded and remained gazing at the dark-haired girl with intent eyes.

"How did you manage it?" asked Jadeite with a shudder – the General could still feel the shock that he'd experienced after the group had re-appeared in the village-square among the crowd of villagers who had been debating what was to be done about the crisis.

At the time he hadn't had the time to think about it because after re-entering the material plain his first inclination had been to collapse heavily against whatever met his back – which had just happened to be a tree – and lie as he gasped deeply for breath which had been jolted out of him during the 'leap' through space.

"Mind your own business Imperial Dog." growled Orlando deeply – the Chieftain had spent what had been left of the early hours of the morning after their escape from the Marauders calming his people and restoring order, assuring Emilia's friends that the girl (Who had collapsed immediately after their startling appearance.) was perfectly fine, just exhausted and that the villagers needn't have any fear of reprisals from the Marauders…in the near future anyway.

It had been an active couple of hours for him to tackle after the adventures of the night but like everything Orlando had dealt with it – after all it came with the job – and even though he'd been tetchy ever since getting out of bed Rula could tell that he was feeling great relief that everybody was safe and a particular sense of satisfaction that if nothing else he'd been able to personally strike fear into the heart of the tyrant.

The keen huntress also noticed that even though he'd just rebuffed Jadeite, Orlando's voice had lost the rancour that had grated in every word that he had breathed whenever he'd been forced to speak to either the General or Prince Darien. She sensed that the village Chieftain had spent the last few hours before he'd caught up on some greatly needed sleep thinking about certain things – perhaps now he realized that even though Mu was evil it didn't mean that all of the people who served him were the same.

But the insight that Rula possessed on how the Chieftain felt about certain things gave her the feeling that even knowing this didn't make it any easier for him to look at either the General or the Prince without remembering with a flash of fiery anger what had been happening to him and those closest to him over many years.

Now that he was forced to realize that amidst the white of suffering innocents and the black of the evil that persecuted them there also existed areas of grey Orlando knew that from now on he would find it even more difficult to fight for the freedom of his people…and that worried Rula more than anything else.

After what had happened would he be able to keep on fighting…?

"Why are you able to do it?" the huntress asked Emilia, her eyes intently curious. "How did you get the…power Em?"

Emilia gave a shrug but she couldn't hide the fact that she'd spent many nights of her life since discovering her strange ability wondering about that very question. "I don't know where it came from…what the source of it is." She said quietly – a far-off look now came into her eyes as she talked openly about it for the first time ever. "It was just…there one day. I think it's always been inside me somewhere deep down but I didn't know about it until one day…it was back when I was still pretty young, during the days when people were dying because of the pestilence. My family and friends were all dying…I felt so alone and all I wanted was to be somewhere far away from the disease and Emperor Mu. I closed my eyes and imagined being in a peaceful place where there was no sound of the dying that surrounded me in this village back then…and suddenly I felt a lot colder. When I opened my eyes again I was somewhere I'd never imagined…a place where the ground and the trees were covered in

snow. It was so beautiful and the air was so quiet that I could hear myself breathing."

Rula's eyes had just become distant as she realized that she knew the place that the dark-haired girl had just described to her. "Charon…the Outer Moon." She said quietly.

Surprised Emilia gave a nod. "I was somewhere peaceful…that was something I'd forgotten all about ever since Emperor Mu became our ruler. But now that I'd finally been granted what I'd wished for I panicked…after the first wonderful moment I realized that I was all alone. I just wanted to be home again, not in someplace I'd never seen before without the people I love. I closed my eyes so tightly it hurt and thought about my home…this village."

Rula nodded as she finally figured it out. "And you came back." She finished for the dark-haired girl, an understanding smile crossing her thoughtful face as she nodded slowly. "Because you knew it wasn't what you really wanted at all."

"Yeah…but I knew that it hadn't just been a dream because there was snow on my clothes, melting in the sunlight." Emilia shook her head sorrowfully as she remembered how confused she'd been on that day and how worried about herself her strange power to travel to faraway places simply by willing it had made her. "It's funny…I'd been thinking that I'd been all alone here but it took me only a second of being REALLY alone to understand that I'd been wrong. I have friends here…even though my family died from the disease I wouldn't use my power to go somewhere I could be safe from the suffering that we go through everyday, especially now that we've defied Mu. I know that my place is right here with my people…we share all of the bad and all of the good. Somehow not understanding myself or my power doesn't matter at all when I think about what I do know while I'm here."

"You came up with that by yourself…there and then?" Rula asked, unable to hide the surprise that she felt.

Emilia nodded seriously – meanwhile Orlando was gazing at her thoughtfully. The Chieftain had never imagined that she thought like that – Emilia had always been so quiet and he'd believed her to be naturally strong but he now realized that she had more depth than he'd thought.

It was strange but people kept so many things about themselves hidden…

Eventually Rula spoke up again – she'd been so impressed by the dark-haired girls strength and determination that she'd fallen silent. "Em…I know what your power is." She declared smiling. "Teleportation…the power to shift oneself from one place to another with a thought. Translocation, warping, call it whatever you want to but it's nothing to be ashamed of…really." There was a private quality in her smile as she thought about the security she'd felt among the Princesses – girls with powers like hers. "Keeping secrets is never the solution to your problems whatever they are – all that can do is distance you from the people who care about you. By coming clean to Orlando you did the brave thing…and that makes you braver than me. Now your cause has one more warrior to fight for freedom and dignity for all of the people of Earth. Orlando…you're really lucky to have this girl alongside you."

Orlando's reply was simply but moved Emilia more than anything else he could have said. "I know."

"What about you?" Jess piped up grinning as she looked at Rula.

"Me?" Rula raised her eyebrow. "And what about me?"

"Oh don't you try to wriggle out of it!" Jess exclaimed walking right up to the huntress. "Talking about secrets what about YOURS?"

Rula raised her eyebrows even further. "Secret?" she repeated innocently.

"Emilia told us who you really are!" Jess screeched. "Why didn't you tell us?!! You're legendary…you're Princess Universe!"

"Jess…" Rula sighed as she felt Emilia looking at her – oddly though she couldn't sense that Orlando was paying any more attention. "I wasn't trying to deceive any of you – I just didn't want any of you to know."

"But you just told me that secrets are never good." Emilia pointed out.

Rula gave her a piercing look. "This is different." She responded quietly.

"I don't see why." The dark-haired girl said persistently. "This is about who you are…Universe."

Rula didn't say anything as she looked at her – then she could bear the suspense no longer and turned her gaze in the direction of Orlando, wondering what he made of her now that he knew who she was…and more importantly whether he was angry that she hadn't confided in him.

The calm acceptance in his eyes shocked her when she looked and with a jolt she realized the truth…Orlando had known who she really was from the very first time that he'd met her. Known in his heart that she was girl who had become a heroine, an inspiration to his people…and sensing that she'd rather have nobody else know he'd kept her secret for her.

An understanding smile touched his face as he realized that she'd guessed how matters had stood and she felt her gratitude for him soar…

"What're you going to do now?" Emilia asked – her face was concerned.

"Obviously she's going to stay and join us! Jess exclaimed, her eyes shining. "With Universe on our side we can't lose!"

Rula groaned – this was just what she'd been afraid of. "Jess…I don't know." She said ruefully.

"What's to know? We need you!"

"You already have everything that you need Jess." Rula retorted folding her arms firmly. "Right here at home…the show can go on without me. Trust me…you'll be fine!"

"You'd be more than welcome to join us Universe." Emilia remarked.

"Look you two, leave her alone!" Orlando scolded them both with a grin. "She's already got a home of her own…this is our village and it's up to us and our people to keep it safe."

"What do you say Princess Universe?" Jess asked the huntress, still hopeful.

Rula looked at her and at the other two – then smiling with all the serenity of complete turmoil she smiled. "Where's Darien?" she asked as she turned away unexpectedly.

Jadeite who'd been eased out of the conversation looked at her. "He went over that way." The General pointed in the direction of a tree with a large thick trunk. "I think he said that he wants a little time alone to think…"

Rula didn't reply – instead she strutted away from the questioning gazes of her new friends and the incredible pressure that their attention entailed. "Gimme a little time with him." She suggested with an iron-like tone in her voice now. "Later."

They watched as she walked away towards the tree. "She's not going to stay with us…is she?" Jess asked sorrowfully.

Orlando shrugged his vast shoulders as he watched the warrior-Princess walk away. "It's her choice to make Jessi….JESS." he said – since he was on the subject of honouring the wishes of other people he decided that it would be best if he respected the dark-haired girls desire to be called by her shortened name. "Rula, Universe…whoever she wants to be, she has to live true to herself and that means that she has to be able to make up her own mind – and more importantly we should respect whatever decision she makes."

Rula smiled – her early, hard way of life had sharpened not only her eyes and reflexes but also her ears. Couldn't have said it better myself… she thought as she went on her way with a purpose in mind.

~*~*~

Darien felt more sadness and disbelief than he'd ever known in his entire life as he sat with his back against the tree and his face tilted upward.

While the others had slept off the exhaustion that had inevitably followed their adventures the night before the Prince had been awake – unable to rest he'd been thinking and even now he hadn't managed to find absolution.

The last hours had seemed like the longest of his life – as the lives of the villagers had continued around him he'd remained in doubt and trepidation.

Since that life-changing moment he'd been in shock – the truth about the tyranny of his brother was not the most shocking realization he'd come to but the knowledge that deep down he'd always known that the bitterness of his people had been justified hurt him more…because he'd had faith in his brother through it all.

Darien had spent so many years telling himself that his Kingdom was prosperous and justly ruled by his brother who for all his rash ways had always done his best for all of his subjects and worked for the improvement of Earth…but even though he'd mostly been able to convince himself of this he'd never succeeded in silencing the tiny voice that had tried to make him listen to it over the years.

Long ago Darien had believed that it had been the voice of doubt…but now he realized that it had been his better sense which he'd sacrificed for the sake of the illusion that he'd built up out of the way he'd wished things were in his life.

Last night he'd finally been forced to listen to it when Orlando had brought him face to face with the truth – even in the face of his righteous rage Darien had tried to believe against the sheer passion of Orlando that his faith was well placed in his brother…and so his heart had broken when he'd seen for himself that Mu was the very scourge that he'd spent so much time trying to stop in order to impress his brother.

That had been his reward for having faith in his brother – the cruel slap of reality that had struck into him the realization that he'd been deceiving himself.

At the moment that he'd accepted the truth Darien had wished that the girl Jess had not followed Orlando and arrived in time to stop her leader from taking his life – but now the yearning was gone and only sadness was left in its place.

During what had been left of the night Darien had spent his time looking up at the Moon as it had faded against the approaching dawn and the memory of the kindly words that Queen Serenity had spoken to him three months ago had rang in his heart.

"You may look like your brother yet there is nothing of him in you…"

Darien's eyes hardened as he thought about that – and now a fierce determination to live his life without pretending that things were different gripped his soul.

Serenity had been right – the more he thought about what she'd told him the more he believed that she was the wisest person he'd ever known.

Whatever his brother had done to their people he didn't have to answer for his crimes. The brother he had practically worshipped had never existed but he no longer felt sorry that he knew the truth. Now that he'd faced up to the reality he could live his life without lying to himself, without pretending anymore.

But where was he supposed to go from here? What was he going to do with his life now that he was done with the Empire?

Darien sighed deeply in confusion and shook his head. "Who am I?" he asked in bewilderment, the sadness of lost innocence ringing in his voice.

A rough hand touched his shoulder. "I can't tell you that Darien…" her voice said with surprising gentleness – if nothing else she sounded like she understood how he was feeling. "There's not a single person alive who's ever completely understood themselves…and I'm not gonna be the first to break that rule."

Courteously Darien rose to his feet and turned to face her – she was more of a lady than any of the wenches he'd been surrounded by and she deserved his respect.

Rula's eyes were uncompromising but sympathetic as she gazed up at him – her hand stayed on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked him in concern.

"Not really." Darien blandly responded – already he was sticking to his new policy of total and complete honesty with himself and the whole world.

"I believe you." Rula smirked. "You know Darien – if I didn't know any better I'd say that you've had an epiphany!"

"I don't know about that – I know that until last night I lived a charade of how I'd like everything to be in my life. But now I know that it was all a lie – and I can't hide the truth anymore."

Rula's eyes sparkled – even if it had taken him most of his life to get this far she was glad that he'd managed to work it out. "That about sums it up I reckon." She remarked. "But you still look like something's eatin' ya."

Darien tried to meet her questioning gaze coolly but he couldn't do it as she looked at him, eyebrow raised. "I know that I didn't help him – but I still can't forgive myself for standing by my brother while he did such terrible things. I was so wrapped up in believing in him that I didn't see clearly enough to realize the suffering that my countrymen were going through was caused for his amusement." His face was etched with torment as he answered the question she hadn't asked. "I'm…afraid that they'll hate me because I didn't do anything to stop my brother."

Rula's smirk eased and changed beyond all imagination – into a smile. "I know exactly how you feel." She told him quietly. "Darien – whatever you do now is your choice to make. The guilt is a burden you'll have to carry – it never really goes away, I know, but it gets easier and easier to bear with time…trust me. What matters now is what you'll do next – you can let the evil reputation of your brother drag you down forever or you can live your own life. It's up to you."

"That's SO easy for you to say!" Darien retorted – he was still too worried to take onboard her double-edged words of encouragement. "How can the people ever trust me again? To them I'll never be anything more than the brother of Emperor Mu…his shadow."

Rula pulled her face in disgust. "Your brother's 'shadow'?" she scoffed and her new harshness struck him like a punch. "Don't make yourself into some tragic hero Darien!"

"You can say that because you ARE a hero to them!" Darien exclaimed, his eyes hurt as he felt stung by her seemingly cruelness.

"Heroine." She corrected him absent-mindedly.

"HEROINE." Darien acceded. "But what I'm trying to say…"

"…is a whole load of crap." Rula interrupted him cuttingly. "Look I'm not saying that it's going to be easy to make amends Darien but I do understand what you're going through." Leaning towards him she looked deeply into his eyes and he found himself believing it. "Do you know who I really am?"

Darien almost stopped breathing – then he nodded his head so quickly that he jarred his neck. "Yes…Emilia told us when we found her last night." He said looking into her eyes and remembering the beautiful intensity of the anger that he'd seen burning there that terrible night three months ago. "I couldn't believe her at first but when I saw you again and saw your anger I had no doubts that it was really you. There was no way I could."

"Right." Rula smiled gladly. "That saves us a hell of a lot of time then…"

"You know – I've always wondered what I'd say to you if we ever met again." Darien stammered and his face flushed with crimson as he looked at the girl who had been so wronged by his evil brother.

"Me too." Rula replied to his surprise.

"Really? And now?"

"Now that you're right here in front of me all that I want to do is slap you." Rula smiled charmingly. "Little joke there." She added as he looked at her in shock.

"Your highness…forgive me for happened that night." Darien pleaded. "I didn't want to hurt you…"

"Well whatever you didn't want I WAS Darien." The huntress snapped – she didn't blame him at all but she didn't have time to stand around listening to his apologies when she knew exactly how he felt. "But there's something that you haven't bothered to take into consideration while you've been so busy feeling sorry for yourself."

"What?"

"That you DIDN'T hurt me – that was your brother!" Rula exclaimed. "So for chrissake just let it rest – I don't blame you okay?"

"I blame myself!" Darien protested stubbornly. "I could have stopped him from telling them all about your secret but I just stood there and watched…how can I accept your forgiveness so easily?"

Rula sighed and rolled her eyes skyward – she could tell that she'd never be able to convince him that he had no reason to blame himself. It seemed to her like people took comfort out of blaming themselves for everything that went wrong in their lives…remembering Vaura she realized that she was an excellent example of that.

"Well…why don't you feel REALLY bad about what happened and start making up for it right?" Rula asked suddenly, a sly smile crossing her face.

"What?"

"What I mean Darien is that you can stop being a spectator of what's going on in your world starting right now and begin helping make things better for your people." She told him firmly. "So are you gonna stop feelin' responsible for your brother's crimes and regrettin' stuff that you're not responsible for or are you gonna keep feelin' sorry for yourself as soon as my back's turned? It's up to you but I wanna know now…just so that I don't wonder later huh?"

Darien stared at her and realized that he'd been acting like a self-pitying fool…but to his surprise he found that it didn't feel bad because it was HIS mistake and not his brother's that he was feeling embarrassed about. "Could you do something for me?" his voice was earnest as he remembered something else that had happened three months ago – something that had kept him awake at nights just as much as Universe's disgrace. "When you see the Moon Princess again tell her that I'm sorry about what my brother said – please tell her that I didn't support Mu's insult to her."

Rula was disarmed by the sheer honesty in his haunted eyes – she could see that he really cared about the favour he was asking of her even though it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he had nothing to apologise for.

But she didn't – instead a smile slowly spread across her dusky face as her mind got to grips with the possibilities that his request gave her. "You really care about what she thinks huh?"

Darien thought about the way that the Moon Princess had looked at him so openly – the way she had seen him as somebody other than the brother of Emperor Mu. "More than I've ever cared about anybody else's opinion." He said blushing.

"Okay Darien – I'll do it." Rula purred even though she seriously doubted whether she'd ever see the Moon Princess again. "But only if you agree to do something for me in return."

"Anything." Darien said impulsively and then wondered what he'd just pledged himself to do.

Laughing Rula came to her decision and in that moment she decided the futures of many people other than him. "Then it's a done deal. Now follow me…" she said as she turned briskly and started to head back around the tree smiling secretively as she prepared herself for a whole load of convincing. "…you've got bridges to build your Highness.

~*~*~

A short period of time later – late afternoon…

"All of you – please listen to me now because what I wish to tell you concerns the future of myself and all of you."

Orlando's eyes were as hard as marble and cold as ice as he stood with folded arms and gazed at the speaker- the expression on his spiny-bearded face was absolutely clear like a river of mountain water, totally unreadable. His eyes were akin to a pair of twin intricately cut and flawless diamonds – they were the eyes of a man who had known more hardship and care over the last two decades than many people had experienced across generations.

The anger at injustice – the just anger of a man who had served the Royal family of Earth for most of his life only to be betrayed by the newest ruler – could no longer be seen but neither could any trace or hint of forgiveness be glimpsed in his eyes.

Orlando's silent fury at the meaningless deaths of his fellow villagers caused by the pointlessly harsh tithes imposed by Emperor Mu and the sorrow in his heart that the children of his village had never known the peaceful tranquillity of the days that he'd lived through during his youth long before the reviled tyrant had come into power and plunged those happy times into restless fear was no weaker.

Around his hard eyes were the traces of the one emotion that had always kept all of his rage and heartache locked inside and kept himself from being destroyed by them just as they had done to many other men – it was just one emotion against a tide of many other intense feelings but it was powerful enough to stand all alone and hold back the ferocity of the others. The emotion that kept them all sealed away in the bottom of his soul so that he could go on living for the sake of his people and their children was love.

Orlando could have given up hope on the day he'd been told that his wife had died – it would have been so easy for him to have raced off in despair and faced Mu and lost his life just like many more before him had done…

But he hadn't…and his reason to go on living was that the children of his village needed him more than ever now. In their young faces he could see a promise of a future or rather the chance of a one that just might lie waiting for them at the end of their long harsh roads ahead if only he could defeat the tyrant.

If Mu was fought then maybe one day the children would no longer have to live in fear of him stealing away their hopes and lives…their futures.

To anybody other than Jess and Emilia it would have been hard to imagine that anything so gentle could ever pass through the mind of the empty-faced Chieftain who stood there now as solid as a rock…his eyes were neither warm nor cold and promised nothing at all as their grey light glimmered.

As he stood before the mighty warrior Prince Darien, now an outcast just like the people of this village, felt smaller than he'd ever felt in his life but he was determined to try his best to convince him that he was sincere. "I've believed that this world is the greatest there ever was my whole life – and in my heart I still do." The dark-haired Prince continued his voice steady. "But…I now know that as long as my brother rules over this world our people can never know true happiness. I've accepted that Mu is the evil tyrant that everybody else has always known him to be…I told myself that it wasn't true for so long that I came to believe it but now I've accepted the real truth. I can't go on acting out a charade – from this day on I want to live true to myself."

Standing a little way behind him Jadeite was hanging on Darien's every word as he watched him intently. The General knew that every word that the Prince was speaking was honest since the only person he'd ever been able to lie to in his entire life had been himself…

Jess felt confused as she stood on one side of Orlando – standing by the Chieftain's other side Emilia understood perfectly where the young man who her people had despised along with his elder brother for so long was coming from. While they had been waiting for Princess Universe to come back from around the tree she had taken the chance to finally change out of her slave costume – she'd felt disgusted wearing what she thought of as a symbol of what Mu saw her gender as being…slaves.

Now she wore a green tunic, brown boots which covered the majority of her legs and a wide-brimmed hat with a red feather sticking up from the brim – as she watched Darien she no longer felt resentful towards him but there was still worry in her eyes.

Rula was silent - other than her hope that Orlando would come round she was thinking about Em's boots...she'd never seen boots longer than her own before.

Orlando's face was impassive even now – if he'd been just as surprised as Emilia and Jess had been when Darien had shuffled after Rula when she'd come back to them then he didn't show it.

"What are you trying to say?" Orlando asked in that same grey emotion that lay between forgiveness and eternal hate.

Darien didn't take a long breath before saying what he'd come back to say – to him even breathing came second to the importance of what he wanted to tell them all. "I want to be a part of what you and your comrades are trying to accomplish here…by fighting the tyrant Emperor Mu." He found that referring to the man he'd called 'brother' as recently as yesterday in this way made it a lot easier for him to think of joining the side of those who wanted to overthrow him. "I've come before you to ask that you allow me to become part of the Freeborn…Chief Orlando."

Jadeite's mouth had dropped wide open as he stared disbelievingly at his young charge whose sincerely spoken words astounded him – and he had to admit that he'd seen more layers of human pleasure and horror than he prayed Darien ever would. "Darien…do you know what you're saying?" he exclaimed. "Hey listen – I know that you feel betrayed by Mu but you can't risk your life like this! You have to get the hell out of this continent – lie low until…"

As he spoke the General walked towards Darien – with an all-so innocent look on her face Rula stuck her foot out and Jadeite stumbled, his well-intentioned barrage of disapproval shut off before it could waver Darien's resolve. Not that she really thought that anything that he might have said would have swayed the new determination that had filled the Prince with the resolve to do everything within his power to help these people but after all her hard work behind the tree she just didn't want to take the risk.

Darien turned to face the bewildered Jadeite – as the General stumbled back to his feet wondering what had happened the expression on the Prince's face was the most adamant that he'd ever worn in his whole life. "Go ahead and say it Jadeite." He invited. "You were saying that I should 'lie low until'…until when? When Mu's beaten down all opposition and purges the world for me and kills me at his leisure…all because I hid instead of doing something about him? I can't just sit back while he's hurting people…my father has been turning in his grave over the last twenty years Jadeite! Don't you understand? This isn't just going to stop if we hide and watch from a long distance away…you can't change things just by sitting back and looking at them." His voice lowered and as he walked over to his mentor his face was even more serious than before – even slightly desperate now. "Somebody has to make it end…it has to end. Answer me Jadeite…are you with me or not? Stick with me or run for the hills but whatever you choose

to do make the choice now!"

Time stood still as Rula, Jess, Emilia, Darien and even Orlando waited for the General's response.

Jadeite couldn't think of what to say at all but after he'd taken all of his other prospects and options now that he was finished with the Empire into consideration (That he could stay and throw in his lot with the Freeborn in the hope that things might someday get better or he could hit the trail on his own and one day be slain for treason against his Emperor.) he heaved a sigh and put his hand to his head. "Ugh…" he muttered in resignation and Darien grinned in positive relief.

But the relief faded as he turned to gaze back towards Orlando – his nervousness revived the moment that he saw that the Chieftain's eyes had not wavered. Rula crossed her fingers behind her back as he held her breath and waited – she'd done everything that she'd been able to do and now it was up to Darien.

The Prince had won over his bodyguard and from the looks on their faces both Jess and Emilia seemed on their way to trusting him – however she knew that everything rested on whether or not Orlando would forgive him…and the fact that he'd tried to kill Darien the night before wasn't very encouraging,

Rula hoped that he'd come round since she'd made a point of asking him to include Darien in the Freeborn – using her inside influence to pull a special favour as it were – but now she realized that the most she'd managed to do was convince him to hear the Prince out.

Now there was nothing she could do – after all she couldn't change the way that he felt. It all depended on what Darien said to Orlando now…

Orlando's grave eyes were not promising in the least as he stared at the nervous young man. "And why do you want to join such a lowly band as us your Highness?" he rumbled deeply. "Do you want to become our leader so that you won't be reduced to complete powerlessness not that you're an outcast just like us? Is that it Darien?"

Emilia gave her mentor a reproachful look – she believed that Darien was really sorry and thought that Orlando might at least give him a chance…

Darien faced Orlando's cold stare with dignity and pride – with the courage of a true Prince. "I don't want to lead you Orlando…I want to be one of you." He said softly.

"Short but sweet." Rula said with a grin as she spoke up for the first time in a while. "You won't get a better offer than that Orlando."

Darien smiled gratefully for the support and confidence that she was giving him yet Orlando still gazed at him in doubt. "And why would you want to do that?" he asked in a voice which no longer seemed as harsh and hostile as before but still remained gruff and uncompromising.

"Because I think that I can help make a difference for our people." Darien said and hoped for the best.

An unbearable moment crawled past as Orlando looked this potential new recruit to the determined yet small ranks of the Freeborn up and down – Rula felt her heart pounding and wondered how Darien was feeling as he faced the great chance of rejection…

At last Orlando spoke again. "Hmm…allow that brother of the scum who has oppressed us all for the last two decades to join us?" he murmured ponderously, his grave eyes unusually distant as he considered the matter…then without warning he punched Darien.

Rula gasped and her eyes were so wide that they were almost as round as the moon as she watched shocked as Darien staggered backwards clutching his face. Jadeite was speechless with outrage but at the same time frozen in disbelief which was probably all for the best all things taken into consideration.

There was a dazed look on the face of the young Prince – the most startling thing of all was that when he finally looked blearily up at the Chieftain's face he didn't see the dark fate-ridden vengeful fury that he'd been completely expecting…instead Orlando was grinning.

"You're in." the Chieftain said sourly as he offered a more-or-less welcoming hand to the stunned young man who'd just been inducted into the Freeborn. "Since the Princess recommends you to us what else can I say? Nomination accepted – welcome to the Freeborn Prince Darien! Just don't make me regret this."

For a moment Darien could only stare at the man who had just become his leader. "Thanks no end Chief…" he said faintly as he grasped the brawny hand like a man in a dream and returned the hearty handshake. "I'll…try to justify your confidence in me."

Oh man, oh man… thought Rula as she suppressed the fierce urge to howl with laughter though despite her self-control her eyes did so anyway.

~*~*~

A while later…

Rula's face wore an odd look as she stood with her back against a tree gazing out across the horizon – a spellbound look in her eyes.

What had captivated her was something that she'd taken for granted and actually disliked for many years of her life – the sunlight. Now she watched in wonder as the rays of rich, warm light played peacefully across the ground for miles around, causing the grass to gleam with life. So strange…she'd disliked this so much over the years she'd spent sweltering beneath it but here it was cherished by the people around her.

Each to their own…

The others were taking the time to relax now that their troubles were over for the time being and lowering her eyes she took the chance to gaze over at each of them in turn and think about them. Orlando…so courageous and grave, a man full of grief yet also determined to risk his life for the people around him who needed help. Jess…so eager and full of life. Rula secretly hoped that the day would never come when she would need to take another life in order to survive…many who were anxious to become warriors didn't realize that real fighters had to kill people.

Emilia…such a brave girl, serious about life but at the same time able to laugh in spite of what she'd seen and been through. Jadeite…hmmm, she frowned and tried real hard. Sorry man…haven't a lot to say about you.

As her eyes fell towards Darien's upturned face her apologetic frown faded slightly and became more thoughtful and pensive – though she told herself that she'd done everything she could to help him she felt concern welling up in her stomach. Darien was now where he should rightfully be – amidst the battle to free his world from the evil reign of his brother.

If she'd just ignored him then he would have gone on not knowing what his true purpose was so she knew that she'd helped him all she could…that was enough for one day.

Deciding that it was time for her to announce her own decision about the future Rula cleared her throat – she wasn't good at speeches so she got straight to the heart of the matter. "You guys…" they all turned as they realized that she had something on her mind. "…I just want to say that if anyone in this world can defeat Mu then it's the warriors I'm lookin' at right now. Nobody can take him down but you…I just wanted to say that."

Her eyes sparkled with the very essence of sincerity itself and Jess and Emilia swelled both proud to have been complimented by their role-model. However Orlando's eyes grew slightly sad as he realized that she'd made her choice…

"What brought this on all of a sudden?" Darien asked curiously – something about the way she'd said that last part gave him the feeling that she had something important to say.

Looking around nonchalantly Rula braced herself then folded her arms. "Great day huh?" she remarked confidently though her eyes were sad as she looked at the friends that she had made on Earth during such a short time.

"Yes…for the first time in my life I feel like I'm in the right place at the right time." Darien agreed. "And I have you to thank for that…"

"Actually I meant that it's a perfect day to hit the trail." Rula remarked.

Emilia bit her lip as the others realized what she meant. "Oh Princess Universe…don't leave us!" she cried as she ran up to the huntress and flung her arms around her.

Rula was overcome as she stared into the girls dark eyes which sparkled with the threat of tears. She was shocked, having thought that it'd be Jess who'd react to her announcement that she was leaving but instead it was the serious and quiet girl she'd expected to take it with confidence. "Sorry…gotta." She said firmly and patted the girls hand before she gently untangled herself from her grasp. "If I stayed then you'd always be looking to me for what to do when things got rough…that wouldn't be right. You're a warrior and you've gotta learn for yourself, sharpen your own senses and hone your instincts all by yourself. The greatest fighter who ever lived couldn't teach you how to perfect your natural talents and I should know because I learned from the best."

"Okay…I've thought that over and I have to tell you that I really don't understand it." Emilia remarked as she accepted with dignity that the huntress wanted to leave.

"That's YOUR problem." Rula smirked. "Like I said Em it wouldn't make a lot of sense if I told you…it's just something that you have to work out for yourself before you understand. Listen…don't worry about it too much. Find the meaning of why you feel that what you're doing is right THEN you'll understand what I'm talkin' about. I know that you'll figure it out one day…it'll come naturally."

Turning to Jess she momentarily hesitated and then decided to do her best which was to wish her luck. "Do your best Jess. There's really nothing that we warriors can do better believe me."

Jess beamed. "Princess Universe, where are you going to go now?" she asked worriedly.

Rula shrugged – where else? She still wanted to find the Star Raiders and return to her old way of life – even though she no longer felt sure that she could.

"Where? I don't know kitten…that's freedom for ya! Freedom to do as I want, go where I want…" she sighed and then smiled as she remembered something that Steel-Eye had said to her while he'd still been training her. "…we've all got freedom, freedom to go adventuring."

"But what about the Moon Kingdom?" the dark-haired girl exclaimed. "If you're leaving us then you should go back."

Rula didn't answer that…what could she tell her? The truth…that she was afraid of going back?

Instead she just smiled warmly. "Goodbye Darien." She told the dark-haired Prince seriously. "You take care now ya hear?"

Darien nodded his head gravely as he took this chance to take in the presence of the girl, the Princess who had shown him his true path. "I won't forget you your Highness – or what you did for me here." He said sadly. "You won't forget to keep your promise will you?"

Rula felt in inner pang – she'd doubted that she'd ever see the Moon Princess again and be able to give her his apology but in spite of that she winked at him. "No way."

Turning to Jadeite she thought really hard. "You should be really proud Jadeite…"

Jadeite grinned expectantly. "Really? Why do you say that?"

"………you have really great…hair."

When it was time for her to say goodbye to Orlando her face clouded – she'd only known him for a short time but already she respected him and this was a rare feeling for her. The huntress knew that she would miss him the moment that she left…

Sensing that it would be too painful for her to say goodbye Orlando kindly went first. "Your Highness I will just say that should you ever come back to Earth then here in my beloved village you will always have a home if you need one." As he gazed at her lovely face he took his time since he knew that in a short while it would be lost to him. "Just as Jess said I know that you already have a home to go back to but something tells me that you are nervous about returning there. Why do you feel this way?"

Rula lowered her eyes uncomfortably – she felt as if the Chief had seen into her heart and all of the doubts, fears and guilt that she kept secret as he'd looked into her eyes. "I'm…kinda scared to go back Orlando." She whispered. "I don't know if they'd…HAVE me back after the way I ran out on them."

Orlando stood silent for a moment – he knew that there wasn't anything he could say to convince her that she was being fearful about nothing at all but he still felt troubled enough to urge her to realize that she belonged in the Moon Kingdom not aimlessly wandering the cosmos without a destination or purpose. "Honestly I think that you should go home Princess – I don't think that anybody who knows you could feel that way about you. I can't make that decision for you…" his eyes narrowed and a serious gleam entered them as he looked at her in fresh concern – he felt that he guessed what she had in mind and just the thought made him feel very concerned about her. "…but I believe that of all paths that you might take from here going home would be the safest of all for you."

Rula spluttered and laughed. "Safe…safe?!!" she exclaimed. "Who do you think your talkin' to? 'Warriors thrive on danger'…you should know that!"

"My dear I'm not worried about the danger that continuing your present way of life might bring you – I'm talking about the danger that you might find by returning to your former life." Orlando said, his voice very quiet which struck her with a sense of just how serious he was about wanting to dissuade her from her intentions.

Rula stared at him and the merriment died away from her face as she guessed what the Chief was hinting at. "This is about the Star Raiders isn't it?" she asked, her voice quiet and soft as she realized it and then as she went on it hardened grimly. "I remember…last night you said that they aren't what the once were. Orlando what did you mean then? Did something happen to my group after I left them?"

Orlando closed his eyes against her demanding stare he sighed – she deserved to know the truth. After all he knew that if he refused to tell her then she would go after the Raiders and find out much more unpleasantly. "There's no easy way for me to tell you this Universe but I think that you should know. The Star Raiders you remember have changed a great deal since you parted with them." He opened his eyes and gazed seriously as he spoke. "They're not the group you knew…I don't know if you ever realized this but ever since Steel-Eye died there's been a poison festering inside your group and after you left I'm afraid that your old comrades were twisted by its influence. Steer clear of them! If you went back to them now then you wouldn't know them…that's the best advice that I can give you."

Rula's eyes were distant and gleamed like water sparkling at the bottom of a deep well as she thought about this. "You've seen them?" the calmness of her voice startled Orlando and his heart sank as he realized that he'd failed – instead of dissuading her he'd managed to convince Rula to go and find her former comrades and see for herself what they had become.

"Yes…some weeks ago they visited this planet and tried to barter with our village for supplies for an expedition to the outer galaxy. I turned them away – I was disgusted by what they had become and wouldn't tolerate them here." He sighed at the unpleasant and disheartening memory. "Steel-Eye would have been ashamed…they aren't warriors. They were the worst kind of scum imaginable! Actually they might have done well among Mu's legions…"

"Who was leading them?" Rula demanded, her voice suddenly intense.

Not Grift…he wouldn't have let this happen! He was Steel-Eye's best friend…

"A rough-looking man - he made a very distinct impression." Orlando growled as he thought about the sneering man he'd taken such pleasure in personally hurling out of the village on his neck. "You see…his face was a pattern of crimson scars."

Rula's eyes narrowed into catlike slits as she swore passionately under her breath.

Dirk…

"Looks like I'll have a lot of stuff to straighten out when I run 'em down." The huntress remarked her voice deadly calm and smooth and her eyes as hard and cold as blackened ice. "Thanks for the warning."

"Steer CLEAR girl." Orlando tiredly advised her even though he knew perfectly well that it was useless.

"Can't do that Chief – I never ran away from anything and I ain't gonna start now." Rula said coldly even though she realized that her very presence in this village was proof that this wasn't true at all. "Now…where'd they go?"

Orlando's response was very simple yet it filled her with a terrible coldness. "To Charon."

Rula could only stare at the Chieftain in shock – her body felt numb as though every vein in it had suddenly flooded with snake-venom but in spite of the panic that was filling her in an unstoppable flood of mindless horror and panic she didn't cry out.

One thought echoed through her mind and it was enough for her – in fact it was so horrible that her legs felt weak and frail that she had to fight against her rising nausea just to keep herself from falling on her face.

Charon…oh my god! Rula thought as her breath suddenly came back in sharp trembling gasp which set her body shuddering. The Lyanore…Dirk's after them! He'll slaughter every last one of them for the cash!

Her eyes went blank with shock as her mind flooded with a deluge of terrible images – pictures of the Lyanore, Vaura's friends and family, lying dead on the scarlet ground of the Outer Moon, their deep eyes staring up at the sky unblinking and accusing, frozen forever by the stillness of death…

"Universe…what's the matter?" Emilia exclaimed as she tentatively reached out and brushed her fingertips across Rula's shoulder – immediately there were was an even more shocking change in the warrior-Princess's behaviour than the one all of them had watched come over her.

Flinching Rula stepped out of Emilia's hand – she'd been brought back to reality by her fleeting touch and now she realized that she hadn't a second to lose. I won't let that happen… her eyes hardened in determination that went to the point of sheer desperation. No way am I gonna let him kill Vaura's people! "When?!!" she yelled as she strode forward and gripped the front of Orlando's rough jerkin in her clenched hands. "Tell me Orlando – when did they set off for Charon?"

The sheer intensity of her panic shocked the Chieftain – his revelation to her seemed to have had a far deeper effect on her than he'd been expecting. "Yesterday morning." He said quietly.

"Ye…yesterday?" Rula gasped. "Oh god…there's no time then! They'll already have reached there by now…"

The huntress let go of the Chieftain's shirt – she felt sick right to her stomach. There wasn't anything that she could do…the Lyanore were all going to die and she was powerless to do anything to prevent it from happening. There just wasn't time for her to…

Then she caught her breath and snatched at one last hope – it was the very last hope that she could see in all of this, just one chance that she might be able to reach Charon in time to help the Lyanore…

Emilia was astounded as Rula spun around on her heel and faced her – the huntress caught her breath as she met the eyes of the dark-haired girl and her eyes shone with wild hope that seemed to flood back into her along with the air. "Emilia, listen up and don't ask me any questions because there's no need for you to understand…this is bigger than you can imagine so just trust me." Rula's voice was tense with suppressed excitement and desperation as she grabbed Emilia's shoulders. "I HAVE to go to Charon…you went there the first time you used your power remember? Do you understand me? You've gotta take me to Charon by teleportation…I know you can!"

Emilia gawped at her, shaken by the desperation in her eyes, the tightness of her hands as they gripped her shoulders and the urgency of her voice. "I…I don't know if I can Universe." She admitted in a wavering voice. "I used a lot of my strength last night and I just don't know if I could cover such a distance so soon…"

"You HAVE to!" Rula exclaimed, her anguished voice shocked them all and then calming herself she plunged into an explanation. "Listen up – the Star Raiders are going after the Lyanore! You've heard of them haven't you? The money that their pelts can fetch at the black-market? That's why the Raiders have gone to Charon…for the blood money! I've gotta stop them or else the whole frickin' race'll be slaughtered – I can't let that happen! Not as long as I draw breath!"

Jess gazed at her in awe – Princess Universe was going to fight for the future of the Lyanore! The dark-haired girl swelled with pride for her heroine…

Emilia was also greatly moved by the passion that she could see burning in Rula's desperate tortured eyes – she took a deep breath and nodded her head jerkily. "All right…I'll try Universe." She said softly as she braced herself for the greatest effort of her life. "For you."

Rula couldn't hold back her gratitude as it surged. "Thanks!" she cried as she caught the dark-haired girl in a tight hug and laughed ecstatically. "Oh god…you'll never know how much this means to me! Okay, okay…let's go for it!" turning one she said one last goodbye to her new friends. "Well then…this is it! Take care of yourselves you guys!"

Orlando smiled benevolently and to the warrior-Princess he looked like a regal king in that moment. "We warriors don't say goodbye Princess…so instead I'll say 'til next season." He bade her the traditional warrior farewell, beating his chest with his fist.

Rula's eyes met Jess's and she reached out and clutched her upper-arm firmly. "Chow!"

"Give the Star Raiders hell Princess Universe!" Jess exclaimed carried away by excitement and then realized what she'd said and blushed. "Sorry…I didn't mean…"

Rula's sly wink cleared away her embarrassment. "Don't worry Jess…I sure as hell will!" she grinned devilishly as she released the other girls arm and turned to look one last time at Darien. "Hey…"

"Yes?" Darien prompted, worried by the strange catch in her voice.

"…give your brother hell!"

Darien nodded his head. "Oh I intend to." He replied with a grim smile as he sealed the promise. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"Nah – I wanna fly solo on this one Darien. It's…personal."

"Good luck your Highness…though I think that it's your old comrades who'll be needing it."

Rula smirked and then looked over at Jadeite – and this time she knew just what to say. "Take care of him Jadeite." She told General seriously.

"Girl I've spent the last twenty years doing nothing but – it's a good career to fall back on now that I've burned my bridges with the Empire." Jadeite replied partly serious and partly sour.

"Whatever…time for me to fly." Rula said as she turned back to face Emilia with readiness shining in her eyes.

Nodding her head Emilia led the huntress to a short distance away from the others and stood her directly in front of herself. "Now just you relax and leave the rest up to me." She gravely instructed the huntress as she placed her hands on her shoulders – she still felt tired from the harsh exertion of the night before and hoped that she'd be able to do this. "Easy now Universe – I'm exhausted so this will take a lot of concentration and effort!"

Rula nodded – suddenly she felt calm despite her pounding heart and desperation to get going. "Okay." She breathed softly as she unwound and let every last muscle in her body slacken so that she'd be completely relaxed from the 'leap'.

Closing her eyes the dark-haired girl began to breath in and out – this was her own special 'concentration' rhythm which she'd come to find helped whenever she did this – as she prepared herself for the teleportation to Charon. Just as she'd done on that fateful night she'd first tapped into her mysterious power she pictured an idyllic, beautiful and peaceful realm in her thoughts and tried to wish herself there. Almost as soon as she tried to make the leap of teleportation she knew that her effort was futile – she was simply too tired to take herself and Rula over such a distance.

But before her face slipped into a look of dismay her lips set firmly and her eyes hardened behind her eyelids – she refused to give up. Emilia had promised Universe that she would help her and she refused to fail to keep her vow by sinking into despair – making up her mind with a click of her tongue she spoke softly to the warrior-Princess who was holding her breath as she kept her nerves in check.

"Universe my strength isn't enough for me to take you to Charon…but I can send you ALONE." She whispered. "Why should the Lyanore die just because I'm weak? I'll use the last of my energy to help you…Princess Universe."

Rula smiled. "Can I call you…Charon?" she asked wryly. "Never mind…"

Screwing her eyes even more intensely tight Emilia took a deep breath – under the terrible strain her dusky face became almost white. Please… she thought as she prayed for this to work. I don't understand why you're inside me or even what you are. 'Teleportation'…that's just a word. It doesn't explain why I have the power…but I need you now so please help me. Help the Princess and the Lyanore…help me to make a difference just like her!

For a long while the dark-haired girl clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes tightly shut as she froze the memory of the beautiful snow-covered plains of Charon in her mind and prayed for the best…and suddenly she felt a short stab of pain as she clenched her fingers together too tightly – in shock she opened her eyes and saw that her hands were now crushing empty air between them.

Rula's hands had disappeared as if they had never been there – and like a dream that the dark-haired girl had woken from after opening her eyes again so too was the warrior-Princess herself.

"You did it!" Jess cheered as she jumped up and down in excitement. "Oh Emilia…you did it!"

Emilia gazed numbly over at her friend for half a moment…then she found herself laughing. Exhaustion weighed her limbs down like lead but she was elated by the knowledge that she had been able to fulfil her promise to Universe.

Thank you… she thought as she looked down at her aching hands and smiled tiredly. Thank you so much for being there when I needed you…

Orlando looked on but his great brow was clouded in concern and he seemed pensive – he wished that he could share in their happiness but a twinge of worry made it impossible for him to feel relieved that Rula had gotten her wish to journey to the Outer Moon. The collar… he thought as his eyes narrowed in sudden dread. I can't believe that I forgot about it…

If only he'd remembered the Anti-Magic collar that was still locked around Rula's throat while she'd still been with him – while there'd still been a chance for him to rectify the situation.

Far out in the outer edge of the galaxy was the girl who he had taken as an inspiration – at that very moment she would be opening her eyes to the cold air of Charon where she would face her old comrades…and face her destiny.

Go gettim' girl… Orlando thought darkly as he closed his eyes and prayed for the best for the warrior-Princess. I wish that I could do more to help you than that…but I have a battle, a war of my own to fight.

~*~*~

The Moon Kingdom…

As she gazed up at the sky with vacant and disinterested eyes Mercury felt as though she was staring at a flat and grey wall.

It felt strange that she should feel this way since she had spent many nights of her life sitting out in the open with nothing around her but the stars that filled the heavens in all of their celestial glory – Mercury could not remember the first time in her life when she had ever seen the sky gleaming with stars but the wonder and fascination that she had felt when she had been a little girl had always stayed with her afterwards.

The Princess had always thought about the stars – when she had been young she had wondered about whether they had lives and felt or thought about things or had dreams…just like people. When she'd grown and become more knowledgeable about the universe she had been very distressed to discover that their lives which they spent sparkling so wonderfully only lasted for a very short time indeed.

Very soon afterwards she had learned the names of each and every one of the vast interconnecting constellations that made up the map of the heavens and when she had been brought to the Moon Kingdom to become part of Queen Serenity's court and been very nervous and even afraid Mercury had been overjoyed when she realized that as long as she was here she could always gaze up at the stars – if she ever needed time to think about things, her life and the people in it then they would always be up there for her to look and marvel at.

But lately she had begun to feel that whenever she tilted her sombre face up to look at them in all their majestic glory that they just could not offer her comfort or release from her problems any longer. The warm wondering spell that the stars had once worked so well on her was gone and now they left the shocked girl feeling cold as she wondered in distress what else she could turn to for comfort.

Universe…where was she? Had her friend forgotten all about her?

Slowly she brushed her hand over the back of her head and as she traced her fingers alongside her ear they gently slid across something soft and light…the flower given to her by Universe as a present of friendship.

The flower was still just as beautiful as it had been on the day she had first seen it…the delicate petals were still cool and tender as it sat behind her ear, the stem still intricately twisted around her strands of hair.

Even when she'd bathed Mercury had never taken the flower off but without thinking about it she now carefully undid the stem and slid the blue plant from behind her ear to look at it – she smiled lovingly as she held the flower in the palm of her gentle hand and gazed at it. The delicate and beautiful rose was the only thing that she had left of her friend other than the memories she had of the time they had spent together and they were just as painful to her as the loss of Universe.

The Princess of Mercury saw this one flower as being more beautiful and miraculous than the stars had ever been no matter how magical they looked…because it was a living thing. And life was far more precious than beauty – she fund it ironic that it had taken her this time of pain and loss to realize what was really important, where true beauty really lay.

Suddenly she knelt jerkily and set the delicate flower down on the ground so that it would not be crushed and ruined in her hand which had begun to tremble – the aroma which was so sweet had set her lip trembling ever since she had looked at the flower and now she could feel the threat of tears.

Batting her eyes she realized that she could not keep her anguish silent any longer. "Come home!" Mercury wailed and collapsed into desolate weeping – but all the answer she received was the cold gleaming of the stars.