Chapter Twenty-Eight
Bargaining with the Queen of Charon
Rula was too deeply shocked to offer her own opinion of the weather on Charon that evening. As she stood and stared blankly at her wholly unexpected new companion Queen Chara gave a rich and merry laugh.
The way Rula's mouth hung open struck a chord in her. "Well I can see that you did not expect to see me at all Universe!" she remarked as she looked at the girl and smiled. "I must confess that I am surprised to see you here as well. Was this simply meant to be a quick visit to my Kingdom?"
Rula's feelings were varied, if truth be known, as she gazed at Chara. After all the ravaging emotions and intense realisations that she had gone through over the last few days the unexpected appearance of the Charonian Queen came as a relief. A moment ago she had been feeling relaxed but worried about where she was going to go after she made sure that Charrenity and Ayadi were safely returned to their people…now that Chara was here however she felt much safer and even a little calmer if it were possible for her to feel any more so.
In Chara's radiant company it was hard for her to imagine going through anything as gruelling and deadly as all that she had been through since the beginning of the week and though her arms hung limply with exhaustion and her side was still aching sympathetically Rula suddenly felt her mouth turning upward and forming a tired and yet glad smile – Chara's sweet and charming face seemed to have the gift of being able to set the heart of the most nervous or worried person at rest. But even though she felt comfortable with the green-haired Queen Rula's mind was now filling with worry. Since she and Serenity were such dear friends Chara would be sure to have heard about the way that she had left the Moon Kingdom without a word – it seemed definite that she would try to send her back now that she had found her.
Though her heart had always been in the Moon Kingdom, since the night she had stolen away from it and the friends she'd had there, Rula just didn't feel ready to go back…if she ever would find the courage to face any of the people who she had left behind again. But if Chara decided to make her go back then what was she supposed to do about it?
While the huntress stood in silence, staring doubtfully at Queen Chara, Charrenity who had been standing in stunned amazement gave a squeal of joy and stomped her front hooves on the frosty earth. "Your Majesty!" she cried and hurried up to Chara, her eyes shining with delight. "Oh how relieved I am to see you here! Oh it was all so horrible…"
Queen Chara hushed the Lyanore-girl as she reached out and stroked her snout soothingly. "It is over now Charrenity." She told the excited Lyanore in a soothing voice. "It is all going to be fine now."
Rula gave her an inquisitive look. "You know?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as Charrenity whinnied with pleasure and relief.
Chara looked over and met the huntress's eyes as she continued to caress Charrenity's velvety snout with her gentle hand. "Indeed." She replied and nodded her head gravely. "We received news that a dangerous group of criminals had come with the intention of…" she stopped talking abruptly and a distressed look crossed her face and she shuddered as she thought about what she and her husband had been told about the plans of the group who had intruded upon the Outer Moon.
Meanwhile Rula cringed – hearing the green-haired Queen refer to her old group as a bunch of criminals really struck home to her just how deeply Dirk had managed to destroy everything that Steel-Eye had worked to build. Not only that but she also felt a little more nervous as she thought about Chara finding out that she had once been part of the Star Raiders…
"Well…" Chara went on as she recovered herself enough to speak. "…as you know Universe this was a matter of great alarm and urgency for us. As soon as we knew about what was happening out here my husband and I immediately sent groups of our own Guards to find and protect the Lyanore from these people." The Queen had noticed the subtle wavering of Rula's face though she did not make any remark about it. "I myself have accompanied one of the groups."
"You?" Rula exclaimed unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
Chara smiled grimly. "Of course I came! The Lyanore are like another family to me and so I wanted to be a part of stopping any harm from coming to a single one of them." She replied with such steel in her voice that for a moment Rula couldn't believe that it was really Chara speaking to her now – the Queen's devotion to the Lyanore left her deeply moved. "Serenity would have done the same thing you know Universe."
The mention of Queen Serenity's name hit Rula like a ton of the icy water of a Charonian river cascading over her. Her heart jumped into her throat as she remembered the situation and wondered about what Chara was going to do with her.
Charrenity gazed at Chara in surprise. "Your Majesty…what did you just call Mistress Rula?" she ventured. "…Universe?"
Chara wrinkled her nose slightly as she heard the name that the Lyanore-girl knew the huntress by. "This spirited and if I guess correctly about the events that have played out here today brave young lady is her Highness, Princess Universe my dear Charrenity." She proclaimed in a far more formal tone than Rula would have liked before the huntress could say anything. "Didn't she tell you?"
Charrenity's eyes widened in shock as she registered what she had been told. "She…she is a Princess?!!" she stammered as she stared at Rula in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me Mistress…Your Highness? I was rescued by a Princess…"
Charrenity's excited voice reached the ears of Ayadi whose eyes blinked open as she looked up. At the very first sight of Chara the younger Lyanore rose quickly to her feet and stood almost rooted to the ground in awe and respect as she frantically tried to think up something to say to her Queen…
Laughing at the nervous look on her face Chara beckoned to the little Lyanore. "Come here Ayadi." She called. "It has been a long time since I last saw you – let me see how much you have grown since then."
As Ayadi walked nervously over to them Charrenity walked out to trot along with her friend. "You'll never believe it Ayadi! We were saved by a Princess!" she gushed. "Isn't that amazing? A Princess!"
Ayadi's eyes widened as she looked at Rula who actually blushed under their fascination – she felt like a statue or something.
But she noticed how neither of the Lyanore-girls were at all surprised to see a Princess wearing frayed and skimpy clothing like hers and she thought that it was as if this made the Lyanore much less petty than the human race…nobler in fact since they saw much deeper than most of her race did when they looked at another person.
Chara smiled at the excitement on Charrenity's face. No matter how mature she always made sure to behave Charrenity was still filled with the wondering fascination of the young and the revelation that her saviour was really a Princess had brought the memories of all the stories that the Queen had told her during her visits when she had been very young flooding back to her in an instant.
"Your Majesty – are you nearby?" a gruff voice called from a short way off. "Can you hear me?"
Rula flinched as if she'd been stung by a wasp – Guards!
The Huntress turned and looked at the Queen as she caught her breath and wondered what she was going to do.
Understanding the look that the girl gave her Chara grinned and winked conspiratorially at her. "Quickly Universe! Get out of sight!" she whispered secretively as her eyes twinkled.
For a moment Rula just gawped at her and then realising that she was serious the girl turned, looked around quickly and then decided on her hiding place. Darting behind a tree with a suitably wide trunk the huntress dropped down into the tightest, smallest crouch she could manage and waited for further developments.
Satisfied that nobody would spot Rula, Queen Chara smiled and turned into the direction from which the Captain of the Charonian Guard had hailed her. "I'm over here!" she called out to the Guards. "And I have two of the Lyanore with me!"
There was a silence and then came the sound of many footsteps upon the frosty earth as half a dozen of the Royal Charonian Guards who were out searching for the Star Raiders turned and approached.
"Your Majesty you really should not have come here on your own!" the Captain reprimanded her in as scolding a voice as he was really allowed to use when addressing his Queen. "Any of those criminals might still be lurking around here and you could be in danger."
Rula could just picture Chara rolling her eyes. "Oh stuff and nonsense!" she exclaimed. "They have long since departed as we knew when we saw their ship leaving!"
There was a short period of silence as the Captain thought this through and realised that she had a point. "Never the less your Majesty you really should stay safely with us." He replied in an almost begrudging tone.
The Queen gave a sigh of surrender. "Oh very well." She said resignedly. "For the time being take these two to my husband so that we can escort them back to the rest of the Dance. I shall be with you shortly."
"You want to remain here Majesty?" the Captain sounded puzzled. "But why?"
Chara's response came so quickly and so deftly that Rula looked at her from her hiding place with great admiration on her face. "I heard the frost which covers the trees in this area of the great forest shines in a way much more beautiful than usual when the stars shine as they do at this time of evening." The Queen replied in such a natural and casual voice that Rula's esteem for her went right up. "You would not begrudge me the chance to see this marvel of nature for myself Captain?"
The Guards eyed one another in surprise. "Oh most assuredly not my Queen!" the Captain exclaimed, privately thinking – not for the first time during his career as one of the Elite Guards of the Outer Moon – that Her Majesty was certainly a little bit eccentric. "Shall we stay with you?"
"I am sure that you all have things which you would much rather be doing Gallant Captain." Chara replied with just a hint of sassiness. "Take Charrenity and Ayadi and I will be with you presently."
Slowly and reluctantly the Captain turned and nodded for the Lyanore-girls to follow him. Ayadi's face expressed happiness as she thought about being with her mother again and she hurried to join the Guards – as the younger Lyanore left Rula had to stifle a laugh; her cloak which she had draped over the two Lyanore was still upon Ayadi's back and the Lyanore-girl was without realising taking it away.
Yet at the same time Rula bit her lip – she couldn't retrieve her cloak without giving herself away to the Guards.
But Charrenity hesitated and glanced slightly back at the tree behind which only she Ayadi and the Queen knew Rula was hiding. "Goodbye Princess Universe." She whispered. "I hope that we see each other again!"
Rula smiled as the daughter of her old friend turned and trotted reluctantly away. You can count on it darlin'. She thought fondly.
Chara watched as the Guards disappeared into the distance with the pair of Lyanore-girls in tow and then she turned and signalled to Rula that it was safe for her to come out from cover now.
As she got back to her feet and stepped out of hiding there was a bemused expression on Rula's face – she was wondering if the Captain of the Charonian Guard was related to Blackabar.
As she turned to face the Queen she realised that the green-haired woman was giggling behind her hand. "I haven't had the chance to do anything like this since Serenity and I were your age!" Chara chuckled delightedly. "Well – let's take our time and watch the frost shine Universe…this is the first chance that they've given me to see it after all!"
A while later...
"Doesn't that hurt?" Chara asked curiously.
Rula glanced down at her belly-button where her silver ring glinted in the night. "Not really. It's been there for so long that I don't even notice it anymore – it's practically a part of me."
"Ugh!" Chara gave a shudder. "I cannot imagine having a piece of metal slid through my skin!"
Rula smirked wryly. "Queen Serenity didn't like it either." She remarked. "She didn't say anything about it though."
"Well I quite agree with her Universe." Chara declared firmly. "No self-respecting girl ought to allow her own body to be mutilated…and what IS that stain on your face?? I must say Universe that…" she noticed the look that crossed Rula's face and stopped in surprise. "What? What is it?"
"Don't call me Universe." Rula snapped.
"That is your name whether you like it or not…Universe!" Chara reprimanded the girl with a very strict look on her face
Rula folded her arms and glared at her. "Hey the Princess has retired!" she announced. "You're lookin' at the newest rogue beast-hunter!"
"And what exactly is a 'rogue-beast'?" Chara asked quite innocently.
Rula blinked and stared at Chara suspiciously – as she returned her gaze Chara's lip quivered at one corner as she fought to keep a straight face.
But the strain was simply to great to withhold and as Rula saw the spark in Chara's eyes she felt the edges of her own mouth suddenly beginning to tug.
Giving it up they both burst in peals of laughter as they let go of the argument.
"You look wonderful when you smile." Chara remarked pleasantly as they both stopped chuckling out of sheer exhaustion.
Rula just gazed at the green-haired Queen skittishly as she stopped laughing.
"What is the matter?" Chara insisted as she felt worried by the hint of nervousness in the girl's eyes. "You seem uneasy Universe."
"Oh…it's nothing." Rula muttered as she lowered her eyes and thought about the turn that things had taken. Again she worried about what was going to happen now that Chara had seen her…
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Chara asked, her voice a little sad.
Rula looked up at her again and this time she voiced the thought that weighed so heavily on her mind. "Chara, don't you think that anything about this is a little strange?" she exclaimed. "I mean here we are sitting and having a chat…don't you know how things are for me right now?"
Chara nodded her head gravely – though she had not been impatient to get started she had been wondering when they would get to talking about the situation. "Yes Universe. I heard from Serenity that you ran away from home." With a slight smirk on her face she added, "And your near-nakedness would be very…well I suppose that I really oughtn't say 'revealing' even if I hadn't known. Well…I told you before that you were always welcome here if you wanted to come. Perhaps these aren't the circumstances that I had in mind at the time but I am pleased that you took me up on my invitation Universe. I must say however that you came slightly unprepared for the climate of my Kingdom…didn't you have time to bring a cloak with you at least?"
"It's a long story…for now I'll just say that coming here was a decision I made pretty suddenly so I didn't have a whole lot of time to prepare. And anyway I DID have a cloak…but it kinda went somewhere." Rula replied staring at her – one of the things that Chara had said about her predicament echoed around her mind.
I…'ran away from home'? Rula thought wistfully as she realised just what she had lost when she had left the Moon Kingdom. Wow…I ran away from…home.
"Well…at least these aren't off the rack." Rula commented as she smoothed an imaginary crease on her skirt – which there really wasn't enough of to be creased. "Ah well…the price was right so I ain't complainin'."
Queen Chara's face was serious now as she gazed at the girl and thought about her future. "And what of you Universe?" she asked gravely. "What do you plan to do with yourself now?"
Rula shrugged trying to make the gesture seem indifferent but she couldn't keep the doubts that swelled inside her from showing clearly in her eyes. "I can probably find a ship that I'll be able to hitch a ride on." She said carelessly. "Don't worry."
"Universe…why?" Chara sighed. "Why don't you go back? Don't you realise how worried Serenity is about you?"
Rula lowered her eyes guiltily. "I can't…Chara I just can't! Things are different now – I can never go back there after what happened." She said quietly. "They'd never accept me now that they know…what I am."
Chara looked at the sorrowful girl in silence for a while – her face was thoughtful as she remembered what she had heard about the night that she had left the Moon Kingdom without a word. The Queen of Charon had been told the truth about Universe's past by Serenity and so she had not been surprised at the girl's scanty attire when she had first come across her with Charrenity earlier.
"Universe don't you think that you might be giving up a little too easily?" she suggested gently. "I know that going back would be difficult for you but wouldn't the struggle be worth it? After all your friends are all waiting for you to come back…and you know Universe, Mercury had been missing you most terribly. Isn't that enough of a reason for you to go back?"
Rula winced – the thought of the girl whose lovely eyes and sweet, gentle voice had been in her dreams every night that she had spent beneath the stars or under the roof of a cheap Inn in the last three months. "Chara please…you can't tell Queen Serenity that I'm here!" she exclaimed, her voice earnest and almost pleading. "I can't go back…I just can't!"
Chara remained silent and thoughtful for a minute or two as she sat and pondered the problem – she knew that if she insisted on informing Serenity about Rula being here or tried to send her back to the Moon Kingdom then the girl would run off again and probably never be seen by any of them again.
This was her only chance to solve the problem – and Chara decided that she was going to make the most of it and do her very best. "I tell you what Universe…I shan't say anything about you if you promise to stay here until we decide on what we'll do next." The green-haired Queen suggested in the end. "What do you say about that?"
Rula looked cautiously at her and considered the proposal. "It won't make any difference." She said warily as she wondered what Chara was up to. "I'm not going to change my mind Chara."
"Mmm? Well let us wait and see." Chara smiled as she sensed that the huntress was coming around. "So what will it be Universe? Do we have a bargain?"
Rula remembered the agreement that she had once been forced to enter into with Princess Pluto – Chara's elder sister. "A few days." She said firmly in the end. "A week at the most…okay?"
Chara smiled as she felt satisfied to have gotten her way with Rula. "Then we are agreed – we have made a bargain Universe." She beamed and rose to her feet. "Now I really must go back to my husband – he and Char are certain to be waiting for me."
"Char's here?" Rula exclaimed and then felt unsure as to why her heart had just practically jumped into her throat.
"Oh yes. He was just as eager to get to grips with the men who wanted to kill the Lyanore as I." Chara nodded her head. "Now…where will you sleep tonight Universe? It is very cold this evening and I'm sure that it will become more so when night falls…if you'd like a proper bed for the night then I could arrange for you to come into my home without being seen."
"Nah." Rula grimaced as she shook her head – she'd never slept in a bed in her life – not even at inns - and she wasn't going to start now if she could help it. "I'll be just fine out here."
"Another thing - how ever will you manage to keep warm?"
"Piece'a cake! I can find a patch of Star-Orchids to sleep in, easy."
Star-Orchids were a species of Charonian flower whose pollen had the effect of generating warmth in the air for several yards - thus the large patches that could be found here and there across the plains of Ayadi had become a great boon to travellers who chose to sleep rough in the wild.
"Very well. But what do you intend to do about your supper?"
"Pfft that's okay! I've been finding my own food all my life…there are enough fruit and nuts growing out here." Rula blustered. "Don't worry about me! I'm going to be fine!"
Chara nodded again. "Very well Universe." She assented with a smile which seemed just a little too sincere.
Rula gave an exasperated moan. "Oh god…don't tell Char that I'm here!" she exclaimed. "Just don't even think about it okay? He'd want to come and protect me!"
"I'll try not to mention it to him." Chara laughed and Rula groaned a second time – it looked like she could expect a lot of attention from the Prince of Charon very soon.
Still at least it meant that she wouldn't be lonely that night…
"Well now…I really have to be going now before my husband wonders where I am." Chara declared. "I won't be able to come back tonight Universe since we will have to escort Charrenity and Ayadi back to their people." The green-haired Queen's face became serious now as she gazed at the huntress. "Oh Universe…I was so glad to see you that I forgot to give you my most sincere gratitude."
"Uh-huh?" Rula murmured warily.
"Universe I want you to know that what you did today was truly extraordinary and I want to thank you for your courage." Chara continued. "I count Charrenity just as dear to me as my own daughter – you saved her life today Universe. You fought for her with every ounce of strength that you possess and you have earned my eternal gratitude."
Rula blushed furiously. "I didn't do much." She muttered as she wriggled. "Just what I'm best at…fighting."
"You are also exceptionally skilled at deflecting well-earned praise." Chara laughed and then added seriously, "I mean it Universe. I'll never forget what you did here today. Never. Now I shall leave – you will see me again sometime tomorrow."
"Bye." Rula waved at her.
Chara gazed at her for just a little longer and her face clouded slightly with worry. "You will be here tomorrow won't you?" she asked anxiously. "Promise me that I will see you again when I come back here Universe."
"Sure, sure!" Rula said feeling surprised by the sudden urgency in Chara's voice. "I promise."
Chara's race relaxed a little and she gave an assured smile. "Good. You will be alright out here on your own won't you?"
Rula sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah of course!" she assured the Queen. "I've spent most of my life surviving out in the open wild. Relax – I think that I can last just one more night."
"Hmm well just because you can do so does not mean that you should Universe."
"What does that mean?" Rula retorted with a plaintive note in her voice.
Chara smiled cheerfully over her shoulder as she turned to walk away. "I don't think that I'll tell you." She teased. "After all Universe I wouldn't like to deprive you of the joy of discovery. Good evening now. You will see me again tomorrow and then we shall talk about this."
Without giving Rula a chance to argue Queen Chara walked away – smiling secretively to herself as a plan began to come together piece by piece in her mind.
Rula watched as Princess Charon's mother left – there was a bemused look on her face as she considered just how dramatically her circumstances had changed in such a short amount of time. As she turned and began to look around for a place to sleep that night (It was still early in the evening but she didn't have much else to do.) her eyes fell upon a velvet cloak that lay beside her where Chara had been sitting a moment ago.
Queen Chara had left her own cloak behind and Rula didn't doubt that she had intended her to wear it herself in exchange for the one that Ayadi had inadvertently taken away – the huntress was stunned as she picked up the red garment and wondered just when Chara had slipped it off during their conversation…whenever she had done it the huntress had not noticed and she was surprised at herself for not having realised that the Queen had not been wearing it as she had walked away.
Rula sighed and shook her head as she gave in and slipped the cloak around herself – she appreciated the warmth that it gave her although she would never have admitted it. There was a tiny hint of worry on her face as she wrapped the cloak about herself and thought – she trusted Chara to keep her word completely but at the same time she couldn't stop wondering what the quick-witted Queen of Charon had planned for her…
"Man…this has been one crazy week!" Rula muttered as she shook her head.
Nord's eyes were relieved as he watched Ayadi's mother nuzzle her daughter lovingly – she could hardly believe that her daughter had really been brought back to her safely.
Turning away he glanced to his side where Charrenity stood and smiled proudly at her – now that she was with him once more he felt as if he had not seen her for a life-time. His daughter seemed different now and whenever he looked at her all of the many things that he had longed to say to her while she had seemed lost to him no longer felt as important as they had then – Charrenity was with him again and that was all that really mattered.
"Well done Charrenity." Nord murmured to her – he didn't nuzzle her because he felt that she had grown up too much for that. "You acted as a greater leader than we could ever dream of. I'm proud of you."
Charrenity sighed – she felt that she wasn't the one who really deserved such praise. After all she would have died that day if it had not been for Princess Universe. "I wish that mother been here today. I am sure that she would have made much wiser and better decisions and acted with far more bravery than I did." She murmured sadly.
"We needed Vaura very much daughter…and she was here all throughout this day." Nord replied and Charrenity looked up him and widened her eyes. "She was right inside you Charrenity. When you made the decision to rescue Ayadi at the risk of your own life I saw her in your eyes. That was why I couldn't stop you from going even though I wanted to keep you safe…I couldn't ever win an argument with your mother." he admitted sheepishly.
Charrenity smiled through the tears beginning to form in her eyes.
From the entrance to the sanctuary Queen Chara, King Char and their son watched the moving reunion, making sure to keep a respectful distance away so that they could give the Lyanore some time alone with their children who had strayed and now were back with them unharmed.
Chara was smiling and she too could feel tears of her own coming as she agreed with what Nord had said about his daughter – Charrenity was now the wise and courageous Lyanore that her mother had been.
The Dance-Leader now carried the hope of all her people in her heart along with the memory of her mother and the Queen of Charon was content to have faith in her.
"Let's leave for now – they should all have a little time to be alone with each other before we escort them back to the plains." Chara whispered to her husband who agreed wholeheartedly – Lancet had just sheepishly approached Charrenity and the Royal Family of Charon knew that what must surely follow was a matter between the two of them alone.
The three walked a short way from the clearing and left the Lyanore to themselves for a while. As they walked a thoughtful look spread across Chara's face and she eyed her husband. "Dear why don't we send a request to Serenity asking that she and the Princesses of her court come for a visit?" she asked mildly as the wheels of her mind all turned and clicked. "I'm sure that Serenity would like to see Charrenity when she hears about what nearly happened today and Charon would love to introduce her friends to the Lyanore."
Her husband gave her an odd look – he knew that particular expression that was on her face well and he could tell that she was up to something. "This is a little sudden." He noted. "Do you have any reason in particular for wanting them here?"
"Why, do I need one?" Chara asked sweetly.
The King sighed – he loved his wife with all his heart but at times he felt just as nervous around her as the Guards. "Very well – I'll have the letter sent as soon as we get home." He consented with a wry smile as he decided that whatever secret reason she had it was surely a good one.
Queen Chara smiled as she looked straight ahead – her plan was coming together already. Chara didn't know how long she would be able to keep Universe here so she wanted to act quickly – and now she had succeeded in bringing Serenity and the Princesses to Charon without breaking her promise to Universe.
"Why are you smiling mother?" her son asked curiously.
Chara looked over at him thoughtfully – even though Universe had give her word to remain on Charon at least for the time being the Queen still felt anxious that perhaps the Princess might grow nervous and leave anyway now that she had the chance.
As she gazed at her son Chara made another decision. "I'll tell you when we return home son." She promised him and then smiled secretively. "As a matter of fact there is something that I would like you to do for me…"
Char frowned in puzzlement. "Weren't you wearing a cloak when we set out?" he asked as he wondered just what was going on.
Later that night…
Krrrrrr-RAAACKKK!!!!
A small girl had backed up against the wall as the door had caved in and she lay against it as she looked up at the two tall shadows that loomed over her - she was only a few years old and her thin, bedraggled appearance told them that it had been quite a while since she had last eaten.
The girl's eyes were oddly calm as she gazed at the two strangers in silence – but they shone with a pale brown fire that left the man who stepped nearest to her lost for breath as he gazed at them.
Just a look into her eyes made him feel certain that there was something special about this girl – a girl who wasn't even crying as the ship convulsed all around her. She had great potential that might flourish if only she had the right instructor…
"A girl?" the handsome-looking man found his voice as he looked at her in fascination. "What's she doing here? Well…whoever you are you're comin' with us kitten!"
The little girl remained perfectly quiet and unafraid as he lifted her from the floor, onto his shoulder and she was carried out of the deteriorating spacecraft and to safety…by her rescuers, Steel-Eye and Grift.
Rula opened her eyes and found herself gazing up at the starry sky and realised that she had drifted into sleep while she'd been lying on her back gazing up.
Her face was distant as she thought about the time far away into her past that she had just brushed against while she had dreamt – she knew without even having to think about it that what she had remembered had been the day it had happened.
The day that Steel-Eye had found and taken her in.
Rula narrowed her eyes a touch as she thought about it while she could still remember the details – like all of the dreams she'd ever had she could already begin to feel the memory of what she had seen slipping away from her like water through her fingers no matter how tightly she cupped them together…
One of the things that she had seen confused her – hadn't Steel-Eye always told her that he'd found her on some planet? But if what she had just felt had been a memory then didn't it mean that he'd…lied to her?
Rula was sure that the old hunter had made up the part about finding her on a planet so that she wouldn't grow up thinking that she had no roots and that she didn't fit in anywhere in the universe and she only felt even more grateful to him for everything that he'd ever done for her.
But now that she'd remembered Rula couldn't even begin to figure it out – whose ship had Steel-Eye and Grift found her on? Where had it been heading when they'd rescued her? How had she even gotten on it anyway?
Oh Steel-Eye…why didn't you tell me? She thought as she watched the shimmering sky sadly. Why did you have to die?
Grift had been there as well that day…so maybe he'd be able to tell her more about the ship they'd been on if their paths ever crossed again.
Rula's eyes were thoughtful as she thought about it – then she narrowed them as she heard a twig breaking underfoot a short way off from where she was lying.
After Chara had left the huntress hadn't bothered to go very far away from the spot where she and the Queen had had their little chat. "What now?" she muttered as a smirk crept onto her face – there was nothing that she could do about the questions that gnawed at her mind so a little spot of action was just what she needed in order to work off the frustration that not knowing the answers filled her with.
Maybe she couldn't figure out who she was and where she'd come from but a good spot of tussling was something she was adept at handling.
Hopping upright Rula pushed the cape over her shoulders so that it flowed behind her as she ducked behind a tree and lay in waiting – the footsteps grew closer and since they were heavy she guessed that unless the person was wearing very large boots then they were a man.
Abruptly the footsteps came to a stop and Rula gave a thoughtful frown. Whoever he was this guy (Or woman wearing heavy boots, she added mentally.) was looking for something…or somebody he had been expecting to find here.
"Mmm…time for a little subtlety I'd say." She murmured and jumped at the tree, clambering up its trunk and hopping onto a branch in a matter of seconds.
As she crouched in the foliage she grinned and bided her time in waiting covertly – as soon as her uninvited guest wandered directly underneath her branch she'd…
What happened next took her utterly by surprise – she never got to finish the brilliant ambush plan that she'd begun to form in her mind since the branch suddenly began to shake beneath her.
Rula gasped and since the branch was a pretty frosty one she lost her balance – and fell to the ground below. However her back didn't hit the cold hard ground since she fell right into a waiting pair of strong arms like an animal into a pit-fall trap.
Rula gave another gasp and before she could stop herself she slid her arms behind the neck of the man who had saved her from a pretty nasty tumble.
Prince Char was almost splitting his sides with laughter as she stared up at him in total shock and amazement. "Surprise!" he chuckled as Rula shook her head dazedly. "Going my way Universe?"
"Char…" she stammered and then her eyes hardened and she said in a much firmer voice, "Put me down!"
Char looked at her and considered her request. "You know in this position I could carry you home." he remarked.
"Oh I doubt it." Rula replied – with a quick twist she dropped out of his arms and turning over in the air before he'd even blinked she managed to land on her feet in front of him like a cat.
Now that she was in full view Char gazed at her in silence- the sight of the girl who now stood at her full height in front of him almost bewitched him. As was everything about her Rula's face had a fierce edge to it but even though her hair was stained by the blood of many monsters and beasts her beautiful eyes shone like a pair of beacons of starlight and made everything rough about her outward appearance fade away to nothing as far as the Prince thought they mattered.
Rula reminded him so much of Kangero – he'd always thought so since the day they'd first met in the Moon Kingdom. She had the same proud and yet soulful eyes as his first love but he saw her as a totally different girl not just a girl who fascinated him because of her resemblance to his lost love.
"Spill it Char!" Rula prodded as she put her hands on her hips and looked at him questioningly. "What are you doing out here?"
"Well the low-down is that I've come to make sure that you're warm for the night." Char explained as if it were the most acceptable thing in the world.
Rula was sure that she hadn't heard that right. "Wait, wait, waaaaaait a minute!" she spluttered as she reeled in disbelief. "What makes you think that you can just…" then her eyes fell upon the think blanket that Char had slung over his shoulder and caught herself. "Oh…OH! You meant…oh god!"
Char stared at her in confusion as she burned with embarrassment and prepared to do some major back-pedalling. "What?" he asked blankly. "What did you think I meant?"
"N-nothing! Forget it…just kiddin' around." Rula grinned and laughed unconvincingly before she gave a dark scowl as she thought about something. "Hey wait…how the hell did you know about me being here?"
"Why I was told by my Mother of course." Char replied cheerfully as she frowned. "She especially asked me to make sure that our guest is comfortable for the night."
"She promised that she wouldn't breath a word to anyone!" Rula was outraged – despite the fact that she had known full well that Char would pay her a visit.
"Well I'm not just 'anyone' per se Universe…I'm her son!" Char explained pleasantly as if that made everything all right. "These are for you anyway…though it's a lot warmer back at the Palace." He added in a very meaningful voice.
Rula gave a sigh – she just known that this was coming. "I'm not going to the Palace Char…and you shouldn't call me that. You know that I'm not a Princess anymore. I never was one to begin with and everyone knows it."
Char's face darkened and leaning slightly forward he looked at her intently – in spite of the fact that she had NEVER felt attracted to a man in her whole life Rula blushed under this close attention. "What?" she chuckled. "What are you staring at?"
"Don't the people of the Moon Kingdom have eyes in their heads?" Char demanded hotly.
"Huh?" Rula was confused.
"All they need to do is look at you…and they'll know that you're a Princess." Char replied quietly.
Rula face deepened in colour and for just a moment her mind went blank – no man had ever said such a thing to her before. "Char…" she smiled sadly as she spoke. "I'm NOT a Princess. Don't you remember? You were there when…"
But Char wouldn't even hear a word of it. "Yes, Universe you are." He told her sternly. "Oh I've heard all of the whisperings and spiteful jibes about what happened that night but I don't give a damn – whatever you were before I knew you is the past and it has nothing to do with your life here and now. You're a Princess…you always have been and you always will be Universe."
Rula was overcome – Char's passionate voice had made her believe him as he'd said all of those things. The Prince had so much faith in what she was supposed to be that even though she had lost faith in herself she had to wonder if there could be any chance that he might be right about her.
Char's heart pounded as he watched her blushing face so much so that he almost looked around to find out who was kicking him – anything to break this moment.
"She sent you to keep me from leaving right?" Rula asked smugly after a long while and Char gave a sort of relieved smirk – just what he'd needed.
"You know…I could bring you back to the Palace just like that if I wanted." He remarked just a little boastfully.
"Oh yeah?" Rula had to smile in amusement. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"Well your Highness let's just say that I'm older than you and during my extra years in this universe I've picked up a few tricks of my own."
Rula almost choked. "Oh right!! So did you bring manacles or are you just gonna throw me over your shoulder and carry me back?!!"
As she laughed Char grinned wolfishly and made his move – Rula was so busy splitting her sides with laughter at the thought of this groomed Prince ever getting the better of her that she didn't even see it coming.
Rula's eyes widened as he gripped the end of her velvet cloak in one hand, spun her around with his other and finally wrapped the red material around her arms as he tied the cloak into a knot at the back. "N-no way!" she gasped in sheer disbelief.
Rula's mouth hung open – the cloak was wrapped around he so tightly that she could move her arms an inch. She couldn't believe it – after everything she'd ever faced in her life she'd let herself be trapped so easily because of her own overconfidence.
Char had been grinning smugly but the sight of the utter dismay on her face gave him a stab of anxiety. "It's not too tight is it?"
"No…" Rula muttered as she shook her head numbly. "I'm not gonna turn blue Char, it's just that…oh my god that was so pathetic! You didn't even have to throw a punch…"
Char winced. "Oh my god no!" he gasped in horror. "I never planned to hit you!"
Rula stared at him suspiciously but as she read the sincerity on his distraught face her own softened. "You…didn't?" she asked slowly. A smile formed gradually on her stained but lovely face. "That's kinda…sweet."
And she meant it. Rula thought that Char was one of the most wonderful men she'd ever known…
The silence that hung between the two of them was wonderfully charged and as his heart started to pound again Char broke away – they'd made a connection.
"I'll get a fire going before I leave you." He said – though his voice was casual enough a blissful smile quickly crossed his face as his heart beat.
"I can manage on my own Char." Rula said – why didn't anybody ever get this point?
"Universe you just sit yourself down." Char barked. "From what I hear you've been through hell today…
And throughout the last few… Rula thought with a smile although she didn't voice this thought.
"Are you absolutely positive that you don't want to come back with me?" he suddenly added anxiously. "You're more than welcome you know."
Rula shook her head simply. "Thanks…but nah." She replied flatly. "I need to be alone tonight. Think a few things through…re-evaluate some of my old memories to make sure whether or not they're as important as I used to think they were."
"Memories?" Char wondered mildly.
"Oh don't worry – my memories of you'll always be precious to me Char." She assured him – her voice was deeply sincere and her eyes sparkled.
Char almost fell down. His breathing had certainly become shaky as he thought about what she'd just said.
Then Rula coughed delicately for his attention. "Erm Char? How about you untie me now?" she asked in her sweetest voice. "Come on…I promise I'll be good! Char? CHAR?? Hey have I mentioned how good lookin' you've gotten since the last time I saw you?!! Char…?"
Bargaining with the Queen of Charon
Rula was too deeply shocked to offer her own opinion of the weather on Charon that evening. As she stood and stared blankly at her wholly unexpected new companion Queen Chara gave a rich and merry laugh.
The way Rula's mouth hung open struck a chord in her. "Well I can see that you did not expect to see me at all Universe!" she remarked as she looked at the girl and smiled. "I must confess that I am surprised to see you here as well. Was this simply meant to be a quick visit to my Kingdom?"
Rula's feelings were varied, if truth be known, as she gazed at Chara. After all the ravaging emotions and intense realisations that she had gone through over the last few days the unexpected appearance of the Charonian Queen came as a relief. A moment ago she had been feeling relaxed but worried about where she was going to go after she made sure that Charrenity and Ayadi were safely returned to their people…now that Chara was here however she felt much safer and even a little calmer if it were possible for her to feel any more so.
In Chara's radiant company it was hard for her to imagine going through anything as gruelling and deadly as all that she had been through since the beginning of the week and though her arms hung limply with exhaustion and her side was still aching sympathetically Rula suddenly felt her mouth turning upward and forming a tired and yet glad smile – Chara's sweet and charming face seemed to have the gift of being able to set the heart of the most nervous or worried person at rest. But even though she felt comfortable with the green-haired Queen Rula's mind was now filling with worry. Since she and Serenity were such dear friends Chara would be sure to have heard about the way that she had left the Moon Kingdom without a word – it seemed definite that she would try to send her back now that she had found her.
Though her heart had always been in the Moon Kingdom, since the night she had stolen away from it and the friends she'd had there, Rula just didn't feel ready to go back…if she ever would find the courage to face any of the people who she had left behind again. But if Chara decided to make her go back then what was she supposed to do about it?
While the huntress stood in silence, staring doubtfully at Queen Chara, Charrenity who had been standing in stunned amazement gave a squeal of joy and stomped her front hooves on the frosty earth. "Your Majesty!" she cried and hurried up to Chara, her eyes shining with delight. "Oh how relieved I am to see you here! Oh it was all so horrible…"
Queen Chara hushed the Lyanore-girl as she reached out and stroked her snout soothingly. "It is over now Charrenity." She told the excited Lyanore in a soothing voice. "It is all going to be fine now."
Rula gave her an inquisitive look. "You know?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as Charrenity whinnied with pleasure and relief.
Chara looked over and met the huntress's eyes as she continued to caress Charrenity's velvety snout with her gentle hand. "Indeed." She replied and nodded her head gravely. "We received news that a dangerous group of criminals had come with the intention of…" she stopped talking abruptly and a distressed look crossed her face and she shuddered as she thought about what she and her husband had been told about the plans of the group who had intruded upon the Outer Moon.
Meanwhile Rula cringed – hearing the green-haired Queen refer to her old group as a bunch of criminals really struck home to her just how deeply Dirk had managed to destroy everything that Steel-Eye had worked to build. Not only that but she also felt a little more nervous as she thought about Chara finding out that she had once been part of the Star Raiders…
"Well…" Chara went on as she recovered herself enough to speak. "…as you know Universe this was a matter of great alarm and urgency for us. As soon as we knew about what was happening out here my husband and I immediately sent groups of our own Guards to find and protect the Lyanore from these people." The Queen had noticed the subtle wavering of Rula's face though she did not make any remark about it. "I myself have accompanied one of the groups."
"You?" Rula exclaimed unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
Chara smiled grimly. "Of course I came! The Lyanore are like another family to me and so I wanted to be a part of stopping any harm from coming to a single one of them." She replied with such steel in her voice that for a moment Rula couldn't believe that it was really Chara speaking to her now – the Queen's devotion to the Lyanore left her deeply moved. "Serenity would have done the same thing you know Universe."
The mention of Queen Serenity's name hit Rula like a ton of the icy water of a Charonian river cascading over her. Her heart jumped into her throat as she remembered the situation and wondered about what Chara was going to do with her.
Charrenity gazed at Chara in surprise. "Your Majesty…what did you just call Mistress Rula?" she ventured. "…Universe?"
Chara wrinkled her nose slightly as she heard the name that the Lyanore-girl knew the huntress by. "This spirited and if I guess correctly about the events that have played out here today brave young lady is her Highness, Princess Universe my dear Charrenity." She proclaimed in a far more formal tone than Rula would have liked before the huntress could say anything. "Didn't she tell you?"
Charrenity's eyes widened in shock as she registered what she had been told. "She…she is a Princess?!!" she stammered as she stared at Rula in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me Mistress…Your Highness? I was rescued by a Princess…"
Charrenity's excited voice reached the ears of Ayadi whose eyes blinked open as she looked up. At the very first sight of Chara the younger Lyanore rose quickly to her feet and stood almost rooted to the ground in awe and respect as she frantically tried to think up something to say to her Queen…
Laughing at the nervous look on her face Chara beckoned to the little Lyanore. "Come here Ayadi." She called. "It has been a long time since I last saw you – let me see how much you have grown since then."
As Ayadi walked nervously over to them Charrenity walked out to trot along with her friend. "You'll never believe it Ayadi! We were saved by a Princess!" she gushed. "Isn't that amazing? A Princess!"
Ayadi's eyes widened as she looked at Rula who actually blushed under their fascination – she felt like a statue or something.
But she noticed how neither of the Lyanore-girls were at all surprised to see a Princess wearing frayed and skimpy clothing like hers and she thought that it was as if this made the Lyanore much less petty than the human race…nobler in fact since they saw much deeper than most of her race did when they looked at another person.
Chara smiled at the excitement on Charrenity's face. No matter how mature she always made sure to behave Charrenity was still filled with the wondering fascination of the young and the revelation that her saviour was really a Princess had brought the memories of all the stories that the Queen had told her during her visits when she had been very young flooding back to her in an instant.
"Your Majesty – are you nearby?" a gruff voice called from a short way off. "Can you hear me?"
Rula flinched as if she'd been stung by a wasp – Guards!
The Huntress turned and looked at the Queen as she caught her breath and wondered what she was going to do.
Understanding the look that the girl gave her Chara grinned and winked conspiratorially at her. "Quickly Universe! Get out of sight!" she whispered secretively as her eyes twinkled.
For a moment Rula just gawped at her and then realising that she was serious the girl turned, looked around quickly and then decided on her hiding place. Darting behind a tree with a suitably wide trunk the huntress dropped down into the tightest, smallest crouch she could manage and waited for further developments.
Satisfied that nobody would spot Rula, Queen Chara smiled and turned into the direction from which the Captain of the Charonian Guard had hailed her. "I'm over here!" she called out to the Guards. "And I have two of the Lyanore with me!"
There was a silence and then came the sound of many footsteps upon the frosty earth as half a dozen of the Royal Charonian Guards who were out searching for the Star Raiders turned and approached.
"Your Majesty you really should not have come here on your own!" the Captain reprimanded her in as scolding a voice as he was really allowed to use when addressing his Queen. "Any of those criminals might still be lurking around here and you could be in danger."
Rula could just picture Chara rolling her eyes. "Oh stuff and nonsense!" she exclaimed. "They have long since departed as we knew when we saw their ship leaving!"
There was a short period of silence as the Captain thought this through and realised that she had a point. "Never the less your Majesty you really should stay safely with us." He replied in an almost begrudging tone.
The Queen gave a sigh of surrender. "Oh very well." She said resignedly. "For the time being take these two to my husband so that we can escort them back to the rest of the Dance. I shall be with you shortly."
"You want to remain here Majesty?" the Captain sounded puzzled. "But why?"
Chara's response came so quickly and so deftly that Rula looked at her from her hiding place with great admiration on her face. "I heard the frost which covers the trees in this area of the great forest shines in a way much more beautiful than usual when the stars shine as they do at this time of evening." The Queen replied in such a natural and casual voice that Rula's esteem for her went right up. "You would not begrudge me the chance to see this marvel of nature for myself Captain?"
The Guards eyed one another in surprise. "Oh most assuredly not my Queen!" the Captain exclaimed, privately thinking – not for the first time during his career as one of the Elite Guards of the Outer Moon – that Her Majesty was certainly a little bit eccentric. "Shall we stay with you?"
"I am sure that you all have things which you would much rather be doing Gallant Captain." Chara replied with just a hint of sassiness. "Take Charrenity and Ayadi and I will be with you presently."
Slowly and reluctantly the Captain turned and nodded for the Lyanore-girls to follow him. Ayadi's face expressed happiness as she thought about being with her mother again and she hurried to join the Guards – as the younger Lyanore left Rula had to stifle a laugh; her cloak which she had draped over the two Lyanore was still upon Ayadi's back and the Lyanore-girl was without realising taking it away.
Yet at the same time Rula bit her lip – she couldn't retrieve her cloak without giving herself away to the Guards.
But Charrenity hesitated and glanced slightly back at the tree behind which only she Ayadi and the Queen knew Rula was hiding. "Goodbye Princess Universe." She whispered. "I hope that we see each other again!"
Rula smiled as the daughter of her old friend turned and trotted reluctantly away. You can count on it darlin'. She thought fondly.
Chara watched as the Guards disappeared into the distance with the pair of Lyanore-girls in tow and then she turned and signalled to Rula that it was safe for her to come out from cover now.
As she got back to her feet and stepped out of hiding there was a bemused expression on Rula's face – she was wondering if the Captain of the Charonian Guard was related to Blackabar.
As she turned to face the Queen she realised that the green-haired woman was giggling behind her hand. "I haven't had the chance to do anything like this since Serenity and I were your age!" Chara chuckled delightedly. "Well – let's take our time and watch the frost shine Universe…this is the first chance that they've given me to see it after all!"
A while later...
"Doesn't that hurt?" Chara asked curiously.
Rula glanced down at her belly-button where her silver ring glinted in the night. "Not really. It's been there for so long that I don't even notice it anymore – it's practically a part of me."
"Ugh!" Chara gave a shudder. "I cannot imagine having a piece of metal slid through my skin!"
Rula smirked wryly. "Queen Serenity didn't like it either." She remarked. "She didn't say anything about it though."
"Well I quite agree with her Universe." Chara declared firmly. "No self-respecting girl ought to allow her own body to be mutilated…and what IS that stain on your face?? I must say Universe that…" she noticed the look that crossed Rula's face and stopped in surprise. "What? What is it?"
"Don't call me Universe." Rula snapped.
"That is your name whether you like it or not…Universe!" Chara reprimanded the girl with a very strict look on her face
Rula folded her arms and glared at her. "Hey the Princess has retired!" she announced. "You're lookin' at the newest rogue beast-hunter!"
"And what exactly is a 'rogue-beast'?" Chara asked quite innocently.
Rula blinked and stared at Chara suspiciously – as she returned her gaze Chara's lip quivered at one corner as she fought to keep a straight face.
But the strain was simply to great to withhold and as Rula saw the spark in Chara's eyes she felt the edges of her own mouth suddenly beginning to tug.
Giving it up they both burst in peals of laughter as they let go of the argument.
"You look wonderful when you smile." Chara remarked pleasantly as they both stopped chuckling out of sheer exhaustion.
Rula just gazed at the green-haired Queen skittishly as she stopped laughing.
"What is the matter?" Chara insisted as she felt worried by the hint of nervousness in the girl's eyes. "You seem uneasy Universe."
"Oh…it's nothing." Rula muttered as she lowered her eyes and thought about the turn that things had taken. Again she worried about what was going to happen now that Chara had seen her…
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Chara asked, her voice a little sad.
Rula looked up at her again and this time she voiced the thought that weighed so heavily on her mind. "Chara, don't you think that anything about this is a little strange?" she exclaimed. "I mean here we are sitting and having a chat…don't you know how things are for me right now?"
Chara nodded her head gravely – though she had not been impatient to get started she had been wondering when they would get to talking about the situation. "Yes Universe. I heard from Serenity that you ran away from home." With a slight smirk on her face she added, "And your near-nakedness would be very…well I suppose that I really oughtn't say 'revealing' even if I hadn't known. Well…I told you before that you were always welcome here if you wanted to come. Perhaps these aren't the circumstances that I had in mind at the time but I am pleased that you took me up on my invitation Universe. I must say however that you came slightly unprepared for the climate of my Kingdom…didn't you have time to bring a cloak with you at least?"
"It's a long story…for now I'll just say that coming here was a decision I made pretty suddenly so I didn't have a whole lot of time to prepare. And anyway I DID have a cloak…but it kinda went somewhere." Rula replied staring at her – one of the things that Chara had said about her predicament echoed around her mind.
I…'ran away from home'? Rula thought wistfully as she realised just what she had lost when she had left the Moon Kingdom. Wow…I ran away from…home.
"Well…at least these aren't off the rack." Rula commented as she smoothed an imaginary crease on her skirt – which there really wasn't enough of to be creased. "Ah well…the price was right so I ain't complainin'."
Queen Chara's face was serious now as she gazed at the girl and thought about her future. "And what of you Universe?" she asked gravely. "What do you plan to do with yourself now?"
Rula shrugged trying to make the gesture seem indifferent but she couldn't keep the doubts that swelled inside her from showing clearly in her eyes. "I can probably find a ship that I'll be able to hitch a ride on." She said carelessly. "Don't worry."
"Universe…why?" Chara sighed. "Why don't you go back? Don't you realise how worried Serenity is about you?"
Rula lowered her eyes guiltily. "I can't…Chara I just can't! Things are different now – I can never go back there after what happened." She said quietly. "They'd never accept me now that they know…what I am."
Chara looked at the sorrowful girl in silence for a while – her face was thoughtful as she remembered what she had heard about the night that she had left the Moon Kingdom without a word. The Queen of Charon had been told the truth about Universe's past by Serenity and so she had not been surprised at the girl's scanty attire when she had first come across her with Charrenity earlier.
"Universe don't you think that you might be giving up a little too easily?" she suggested gently. "I know that going back would be difficult for you but wouldn't the struggle be worth it? After all your friends are all waiting for you to come back…and you know Universe, Mercury had been missing you most terribly. Isn't that enough of a reason for you to go back?"
Rula winced – the thought of the girl whose lovely eyes and sweet, gentle voice had been in her dreams every night that she had spent beneath the stars or under the roof of a cheap Inn in the last three months. "Chara please…you can't tell Queen Serenity that I'm here!" she exclaimed, her voice earnest and almost pleading. "I can't go back…I just can't!"
Chara remained silent and thoughtful for a minute or two as she sat and pondered the problem – she knew that if she insisted on informing Serenity about Rula being here or tried to send her back to the Moon Kingdom then the girl would run off again and probably never be seen by any of them again.
This was her only chance to solve the problem – and Chara decided that she was going to make the most of it and do her very best. "I tell you what Universe…I shan't say anything about you if you promise to stay here until we decide on what we'll do next." The green-haired Queen suggested in the end. "What do you say about that?"
Rula looked cautiously at her and considered the proposal. "It won't make any difference." She said warily as she wondered what Chara was up to. "I'm not going to change my mind Chara."
"Mmm? Well let us wait and see." Chara smiled as she sensed that the huntress was coming around. "So what will it be Universe? Do we have a bargain?"
Rula remembered the agreement that she had once been forced to enter into with Princess Pluto – Chara's elder sister. "A few days." She said firmly in the end. "A week at the most…okay?"
Chara smiled as she felt satisfied to have gotten her way with Rula. "Then we are agreed – we have made a bargain Universe." She beamed and rose to her feet. "Now I really must go back to my husband – he and Char are certain to be waiting for me."
"Char's here?" Rula exclaimed and then felt unsure as to why her heart had just practically jumped into her throat.
"Oh yes. He was just as eager to get to grips with the men who wanted to kill the Lyanore as I." Chara nodded her head. "Now…where will you sleep tonight Universe? It is very cold this evening and I'm sure that it will become more so when night falls…if you'd like a proper bed for the night then I could arrange for you to come into my home without being seen."
"Nah." Rula grimaced as she shook her head – she'd never slept in a bed in her life – not even at inns - and she wasn't going to start now if she could help it. "I'll be just fine out here."
"Another thing - how ever will you manage to keep warm?"
"Piece'a cake! I can find a patch of Star-Orchids to sleep in, easy."
Star-Orchids were a species of Charonian flower whose pollen had the effect of generating warmth in the air for several yards - thus the large patches that could be found here and there across the plains of Ayadi had become a great boon to travellers who chose to sleep rough in the wild.
"Very well. But what do you intend to do about your supper?"
"Pfft that's okay! I've been finding my own food all my life…there are enough fruit and nuts growing out here." Rula blustered. "Don't worry about me! I'm going to be fine!"
Chara nodded again. "Very well Universe." She assented with a smile which seemed just a little too sincere.
Rula gave an exasperated moan. "Oh god…don't tell Char that I'm here!" she exclaimed. "Just don't even think about it okay? He'd want to come and protect me!"
"I'll try not to mention it to him." Chara laughed and Rula groaned a second time – it looked like she could expect a lot of attention from the Prince of Charon very soon.
Still at least it meant that she wouldn't be lonely that night…
"Well now…I really have to be going now before my husband wonders where I am." Chara declared. "I won't be able to come back tonight Universe since we will have to escort Charrenity and Ayadi back to their people." The green-haired Queen's face became serious now as she gazed at the huntress. "Oh Universe…I was so glad to see you that I forgot to give you my most sincere gratitude."
"Uh-huh?" Rula murmured warily.
"Universe I want you to know that what you did today was truly extraordinary and I want to thank you for your courage." Chara continued. "I count Charrenity just as dear to me as my own daughter – you saved her life today Universe. You fought for her with every ounce of strength that you possess and you have earned my eternal gratitude."
Rula blushed furiously. "I didn't do much." She muttered as she wriggled. "Just what I'm best at…fighting."
"You are also exceptionally skilled at deflecting well-earned praise." Chara laughed and then added seriously, "I mean it Universe. I'll never forget what you did here today. Never. Now I shall leave – you will see me again sometime tomorrow."
"Bye." Rula waved at her.
Chara gazed at her for just a little longer and her face clouded slightly with worry. "You will be here tomorrow won't you?" she asked anxiously. "Promise me that I will see you again when I come back here Universe."
"Sure, sure!" Rula said feeling surprised by the sudden urgency in Chara's voice. "I promise."
Chara's race relaxed a little and she gave an assured smile. "Good. You will be alright out here on your own won't you?"
Rula sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah of course!" she assured the Queen. "I've spent most of my life surviving out in the open wild. Relax – I think that I can last just one more night."
"Hmm well just because you can do so does not mean that you should Universe."
"What does that mean?" Rula retorted with a plaintive note in her voice.
Chara smiled cheerfully over her shoulder as she turned to walk away. "I don't think that I'll tell you." She teased. "After all Universe I wouldn't like to deprive you of the joy of discovery. Good evening now. You will see me again tomorrow and then we shall talk about this."
Without giving Rula a chance to argue Queen Chara walked away – smiling secretively to herself as a plan began to come together piece by piece in her mind.
Rula watched as Princess Charon's mother left – there was a bemused look on her face as she considered just how dramatically her circumstances had changed in such a short amount of time. As she turned and began to look around for a place to sleep that night (It was still early in the evening but she didn't have much else to do.) her eyes fell upon a velvet cloak that lay beside her where Chara had been sitting a moment ago.
Queen Chara had left her own cloak behind and Rula didn't doubt that she had intended her to wear it herself in exchange for the one that Ayadi had inadvertently taken away – the huntress was stunned as she picked up the red garment and wondered just when Chara had slipped it off during their conversation…whenever she had done it the huntress had not noticed and she was surprised at herself for not having realised that the Queen had not been wearing it as she had walked away.
Rula sighed and shook her head as she gave in and slipped the cloak around herself – she appreciated the warmth that it gave her although she would never have admitted it. There was a tiny hint of worry on her face as she wrapped the cloak about herself and thought – she trusted Chara to keep her word completely but at the same time she couldn't stop wondering what the quick-witted Queen of Charon had planned for her…
"Man…this has been one crazy week!" Rula muttered as she shook her head.
Nord's eyes were relieved as he watched Ayadi's mother nuzzle her daughter lovingly – she could hardly believe that her daughter had really been brought back to her safely.
Turning away he glanced to his side where Charrenity stood and smiled proudly at her – now that she was with him once more he felt as if he had not seen her for a life-time. His daughter seemed different now and whenever he looked at her all of the many things that he had longed to say to her while she had seemed lost to him no longer felt as important as they had then – Charrenity was with him again and that was all that really mattered.
"Well done Charrenity." Nord murmured to her – he didn't nuzzle her because he felt that she had grown up too much for that. "You acted as a greater leader than we could ever dream of. I'm proud of you."
Charrenity sighed – she felt that she wasn't the one who really deserved such praise. After all she would have died that day if it had not been for Princess Universe. "I wish that mother been here today. I am sure that she would have made much wiser and better decisions and acted with far more bravery than I did." She murmured sadly.
"We needed Vaura very much daughter…and she was here all throughout this day." Nord replied and Charrenity looked up him and widened her eyes. "She was right inside you Charrenity. When you made the decision to rescue Ayadi at the risk of your own life I saw her in your eyes. That was why I couldn't stop you from going even though I wanted to keep you safe…I couldn't ever win an argument with your mother." he admitted sheepishly.
Charrenity smiled through the tears beginning to form in her eyes.
From the entrance to the sanctuary Queen Chara, King Char and their son watched the moving reunion, making sure to keep a respectful distance away so that they could give the Lyanore some time alone with their children who had strayed and now were back with them unharmed.
Chara was smiling and she too could feel tears of her own coming as she agreed with what Nord had said about his daughter – Charrenity was now the wise and courageous Lyanore that her mother had been.
The Dance-Leader now carried the hope of all her people in her heart along with the memory of her mother and the Queen of Charon was content to have faith in her.
"Let's leave for now – they should all have a little time to be alone with each other before we escort them back to the plains." Chara whispered to her husband who agreed wholeheartedly – Lancet had just sheepishly approached Charrenity and the Royal Family of Charon knew that what must surely follow was a matter between the two of them alone.
The three walked a short way from the clearing and left the Lyanore to themselves for a while. As they walked a thoughtful look spread across Chara's face and she eyed her husband. "Dear why don't we send a request to Serenity asking that she and the Princesses of her court come for a visit?" she asked mildly as the wheels of her mind all turned and clicked. "I'm sure that Serenity would like to see Charrenity when she hears about what nearly happened today and Charon would love to introduce her friends to the Lyanore."
Her husband gave her an odd look – he knew that particular expression that was on her face well and he could tell that she was up to something. "This is a little sudden." He noted. "Do you have any reason in particular for wanting them here?"
"Why, do I need one?" Chara asked sweetly.
The King sighed – he loved his wife with all his heart but at times he felt just as nervous around her as the Guards. "Very well – I'll have the letter sent as soon as we get home." He consented with a wry smile as he decided that whatever secret reason she had it was surely a good one.
Queen Chara smiled as she looked straight ahead – her plan was coming together already. Chara didn't know how long she would be able to keep Universe here so she wanted to act quickly – and now she had succeeded in bringing Serenity and the Princesses to Charon without breaking her promise to Universe.
"Why are you smiling mother?" her son asked curiously.
Chara looked over at him thoughtfully – even though Universe had give her word to remain on Charon at least for the time being the Queen still felt anxious that perhaps the Princess might grow nervous and leave anyway now that she had the chance.
As she gazed at her son Chara made another decision. "I'll tell you when we return home son." She promised him and then smiled secretively. "As a matter of fact there is something that I would like you to do for me…"
Char frowned in puzzlement. "Weren't you wearing a cloak when we set out?" he asked as he wondered just what was going on.
Later that night…
Krrrrrr-RAAACKKK!!!!
A small girl had backed up against the wall as the door had caved in and she lay against it as she looked up at the two tall shadows that loomed over her - she was only a few years old and her thin, bedraggled appearance told them that it had been quite a while since she had last eaten.
The girl's eyes were oddly calm as she gazed at the two strangers in silence – but they shone with a pale brown fire that left the man who stepped nearest to her lost for breath as he gazed at them.
Just a look into her eyes made him feel certain that there was something special about this girl – a girl who wasn't even crying as the ship convulsed all around her. She had great potential that might flourish if only she had the right instructor…
"A girl?" the handsome-looking man found his voice as he looked at her in fascination. "What's she doing here? Well…whoever you are you're comin' with us kitten!"
The little girl remained perfectly quiet and unafraid as he lifted her from the floor, onto his shoulder and she was carried out of the deteriorating spacecraft and to safety…by her rescuers, Steel-Eye and Grift.
Rula opened her eyes and found herself gazing up at the starry sky and realised that she had drifted into sleep while she'd been lying on her back gazing up.
Her face was distant as she thought about the time far away into her past that she had just brushed against while she had dreamt – she knew without even having to think about it that what she had remembered had been the day it had happened.
The day that Steel-Eye had found and taken her in.
Rula narrowed her eyes a touch as she thought about it while she could still remember the details – like all of the dreams she'd ever had she could already begin to feel the memory of what she had seen slipping away from her like water through her fingers no matter how tightly she cupped them together…
One of the things that she had seen confused her – hadn't Steel-Eye always told her that he'd found her on some planet? But if what she had just felt had been a memory then didn't it mean that he'd…lied to her?
Rula was sure that the old hunter had made up the part about finding her on a planet so that she wouldn't grow up thinking that she had no roots and that she didn't fit in anywhere in the universe and she only felt even more grateful to him for everything that he'd ever done for her.
But now that she'd remembered Rula couldn't even begin to figure it out – whose ship had Steel-Eye and Grift found her on? Where had it been heading when they'd rescued her? How had she even gotten on it anyway?
Oh Steel-Eye…why didn't you tell me? She thought as she watched the shimmering sky sadly. Why did you have to die?
Grift had been there as well that day…so maybe he'd be able to tell her more about the ship they'd been on if their paths ever crossed again.
Rula's eyes were thoughtful as she thought about it – then she narrowed them as she heard a twig breaking underfoot a short way off from where she was lying.
After Chara had left the huntress hadn't bothered to go very far away from the spot where she and the Queen had had their little chat. "What now?" she muttered as a smirk crept onto her face – there was nothing that she could do about the questions that gnawed at her mind so a little spot of action was just what she needed in order to work off the frustration that not knowing the answers filled her with.
Maybe she couldn't figure out who she was and where she'd come from but a good spot of tussling was something she was adept at handling.
Hopping upright Rula pushed the cape over her shoulders so that it flowed behind her as she ducked behind a tree and lay in waiting – the footsteps grew closer and since they were heavy she guessed that unless the person was wearing very large boots then they were a man.
Abruptly the footsteps came to a stop and Rula gave a thoughtful frown. Whoever he was this guy (Or woman wearing heavy boots, she added mentally.) was looking for something…or somebody he had been expecting to find here.
"Mmm…time for a little subtlety I'd say." She murmured and jumped at the tree, clambering up its trunk and hopping onto a branch in a matter of seconds.
As she crouched in the foliage she grinned and bided her time in waiting covertly – as soon as her uninvited guest wandered directly underneath her branch she'd…
What happened next took her utterly by surprise – she never got to finish the brilliant ambush plan that she'd begun to form in her mind since the branch suddenly began to shake beneath her.
Rula gasped and since the branch was a pretty frosty one she lost her balance – and fell to the ground below. However her back didn't hit the cold hard ground since she fell right into a waiting pair of strong arms like an animal into a pit-fall trap.
Rula gave another gasp and before she could stop herself she slid her arms behind the neck of the man who had saved her from a pretty nasty tumble.
Prince Char was almost splitting his sides with laughter as she stared up at him in total shock and amazement. "Surprise!" he chuckled as Rula shook her head dazedly. "Going my way Universe?"
"Char…" she stammered and then her eyes hardened and she said in a much firmer voice, "Put me down!"
Char looked at her and considered her request. "You know in this position I could carry you home." he remarked.
"Oh I doubt it." Rula replied – with a quick twist she dropped out of his arms and turning over in the air before he'd even blinked she managed to land on her feet in front of him like a cat.
Now that she was in full view Char gazed at her in silence- the sight of the girl who now stood at her full height in front of him almost bewitched him. As was everything about her Rula's face had a fierce edge to it but even though her hair was stained by the blood of many monsters and beasts her beautiful eyes shone like a pair of beacons of starlight and made everything rough about her outward appearance fade away to nothing as far as the Prince thought they mattered.
Rula reminded him so much of Kangero – he'd always thought so since the day they'd first met in the Moon Kingdom. She had the same proud and yet soulful eyes as his first love but he saw her as a totally different girl not just a girl who fascinated him because of her resemblance to his lost love.
"Spill it Char!" Rula prodded as she put her hands on her hips and looked at him questioningly. "What are you doing out here?"
"Well the low-down is that I've come to make sure that you're warm for the night." Char explained as if it were the most acceptable thing in the world.
Rula was sure that she hadn't heard that right. "Wait, wait, waaaaaait a minute!" she spluttered as she reeled in disbelief. "What makes you think that you can just…" then her eyes fell upon the think blanket that Char had slung over his shoulder and caught herself. "Oh…OH! You meant…oh god!"
Char stared at her in confusion as she burned with embarrassment and prepared to do some major back-pedalling. "What?" he asked blankly. "What did you think I meant?"
"N-nothing! Forget it…just kiddin' around." Rula grinned and laughed unconvincingly before she gave a dark scowl as she thought about something. "Hey wait…how the hell did you know about me being here?"
"Why I was told by my Mother of course." Char replied cheerfully as she frowned. "She especially asked me to make sure that our guest is comfortable for the night."
"She promised that she wouldn't breath a word to anyone!" Rula was outraged – despite the fact that she had known full well that Char would pay her a visit.
"Well I'm not just 'anyone' per se Universe…I'm her son!" Char explained pleasantly as if that made everything all right. "These are for you anyway…though it's a lot warmer back at the Palace." He added in a very meaningful voice.
Rula gave a sigh – she just known that this was coming. "I'm not going to the Palace Char…and you shouldn't call me that. You know that I'm not a Princess anymore. I never was one to begin with and everyone knows it."
Char's face darkened and leaning slightly forward he looked at her intently – in spite of the fact that she had NEVER felt attracted to a man in her whole life Rula blushed under this close attention. "What?" she chuckled. "What are you staring at?"
"Don't the people of the Moon Kingdom have eyes in their heads?" Char demanded hotly.
"Huh?" Rula was confused.
"All they need to do is look at you…and they'll know that you're a Princess." Char replied quietly.
Rula face deepened in colour and for just a moment her mind went blank – no man had ever said such a thing to her before. "Char…" she smiled sadly as she spoke. "I'm NOT a Princess. Don't you remember? You were there when…"
But Char wouldn't even hear a word of it. "Yes, Universe you are." He told her sternly. "Oh I've heard all of the whisperings and spiteful jibes about what happened that night but I don't give a damn – whatever you were before I knew you is the past and it has nothing to do with your life here and now. You're a Princess…you always have been and you always will be Universe."
Rula was overcome – Char's passionate voice had made her believe him as he'd said all of those things. The Prince had so much faith in what she was supposed to be that even though she had lost faith in herself she had to wonder if there could be any chance that he might be right about her.
Char's heart pounded as he watched her blushing face so much so that he almost looked around to find out who was kicking him – anything to break this moment.
"She sent you to keep me from leaving right?" Rula asked smugly after a long while and Char gave a sort of relieved smirk – just what he'd needed.
"You know…I could bring you back to the Palace just like that if I wanted." He remarked just a little boastfully.
"Oh yeah?" Rula had to smile in amusement. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"Well your Highness let's just say that I'm older than you and during my extra years in this universe I've picked up a few tricks of my own."
Rula almost choked. "Oh right!! So did you bring manacles or are you just gonna throw me over your shoulder and carry me back?!!"
As she laughed Char grinned wolfishly and made his move – Rula was so busy splitting her sides with laughter at the thought of this groomed Prince ever getting the better of her that she didn't even see it coming.
Rula's eyes widened as he gripped the end of her velvet cloak in one hand, spun her around with his other and finally wrapped the red material around her arms as he tied the cloak into a knot at the back. "N-no way!" she gasped in sheer disbelief.
Rula's mouth hung open – the cloak was wrapped around he so tightly that she could move her arms an inch. She couldn't believe it – after everything she'd ever faced in her life she'd let herself be trapped so easily because of her own overconfidence.
Char had been grinning smugly but the sight of the utter dismay on her face gave him a stab of anxiety. "It's not too tight is it?"
"No…" Rula muttered as she shook her head numbly. "I'm not gonna turn blue Char, it's just that…oh my god that was so pathetic! You didn't even have to throw a punch…"
Char winced. "Oh my god no!" he gasped in horror. "I never planned to hit you!"
Rula stared at him suspiciously but as she read the sincerity on his distraught face her own softened. "You…didn't?" she asked slowly. A smile formed gradually on her stained but lovely face. "That's kinda…sweet."
And she meant it. Rula thought that Char was one of the most wonderful men she'd ever known…
The silence that hung between the two of them was wonderfully charged and as his heart started to pound again Char broke away – they'd made a connection.
"I'll get a fire going before I leave you." He said – though his voice was casual enough a blissful smile quickly crossed his face as his heart beat.
"I can manage on my own Char." Rula said – why didn't anybody ever get this point?
"Universe you just sit yourself down." Char barked. "From what I hear you've been through hell today…
And throughout the last few… Rula thought with a smile although she didn't voice this thought.
"Are you absolutely positive that you don't want to come back with me?" he suddenly added anxiously. "You're more than welcome you know."
Rula shook her head simply. "Thanks…but nah." She replied flatly. "I need to be alone tonight. Think a few things through…re-evaluate some of my old memories to make sure whether or not they're as important as I used to think they were."
"Memories?" Char wondered mildly.
"Oh don't worry – my memories of you'll always be precious to me Char." She assured him – her voice was deeply sincere and her eyes sparkled.
Char almost fell down. His breathing had certainly become shaky as he thought about what she'd just said.
Then Rula coughed delicately for his attention. "Erm Char? How about you untie me now?" she asked in her sweetest voice. "Come on…I promise I'll be good! Char? CHAR?? Hey have I mentioned how good lookin' you've gotten since the last time I saw you?!! Char…?"