Chapter Twenty-Nine
The Hunter in the Darkness
The following afternoon…
Queen Serenity savoured the moment that she feasted her eyes on the natural splendour of Charon for the first time since she had become the ruler of her Kingdom.
On that day she had been obliged to relinquish much of her personal freedom and as she stood in the doorway of her personal spacecraft she took her time to breathe the cool crisp air…the Outer Moon had not changed since she had last been here.
Serenity's mouth quivered somewhere between a smile of contentment and a joyful grin but all through she was happy – but she checked herself and her face became a little sombre. The Queen reminded herself that she could not allow herself the luxury of enjoying herself while she had desperate business to attend to.
Universe was still missing and all that she ought to be thinking about was finding her and bringing her back to where she belonged – but the letter that she had received from King Char the day yesterday urging her to come for a visit, bringing the Princesses with her without delay had been so pressing that she had felt that she had simply had to agree.
Still she had felt reluctant to leave the urgent task in the hands of anybody else but she had made arrangements for the search for the missing Princess to be continued during her absence and prepared to leave for Charon with the Princesses.
Serenity gave a long sigh which misted as soon as it left her mouth – she was here now and so she decided to take the opportunity to forget her grief for a little while.
"Come now." Serenity prompted the Princesses mildly as she gazed around at the snowy landscape unable to take her eyes away from the beautiful spectacle.
Behind her followed her daughter, Venus, Charon, Mars, Jupiter and last of all Mercury who trailed half-heartedly at the back of her group, her eyes downcast and her face forlorn.
Over the many weeks that had passed since Universe had left the Moon Kingdom the blue-haired Princess had grown more and more distant and isolated from the rest of her friends whose efforts to bring her out of her sorrowful reverie had been useless. Mercury was so melancholy now and she had even stopped reading, not caring enough about anything to learn about it as much as she had once loved to absorb knowledge.
The one thing that she cared about was that she wanted her friend the purple-haired Princess back – that was the only thing that she ever thought about and recently the Mercurian had begun to spend most of her nights sitting by her window trying to picture where Universe was and what she was doing – she hardly went to meals and she felt worse with every day that went by.
Mercury had no idea when her misery would end but when she had woken that morning she had realised that no matter what the cost would be it had to end soon or she would go mad…
Queen Serenity had been firm and insisted that she accompany the rest of them on their trip to Charon secretly hoping that the prospect of seeing the wonders of the Outer Moon for herself (Which she had wanted to see so much ever since meeting Princess Charon for the first time.) would bring her out of her depression. The hope was deep but Serenity realised that Mercury would only really lose the sadness which dragged her down when Universe was back with her…nothing else would fill the hollow space in her heart but the return of the friend whose absence from her life had created that aching emptiness.
"Oh my…so like the Moon Kingdom!" Venus breathed as she stared around at the snow-bound countryside with fascinated eyes. "But it's so different at the same time!"
Charon was looking around with a smile on her face as she stood with Estrella held in her arms and basked in the wonderful familiarity of her home – she had been away from this place so that she could be among her friends for many months now and it felt good to be back but even better to have her friends with her as well.
Or most of them at least…
The green-haired Princess had begun to appreciate her friends even more than she'd ever valued them over the last couple of months since Universe had disappeared but even though most of the people she loved so much were still with her Charon felt that a part of her life had been torn away.
Without Universe her circle of friends was incomplete and that made her unhappy – how could she feel warm in the company of her friends when there was one of them who had strayed and was even now all alone?
Charon couldn't stop worrying about Universe for a second and she deeply hoped that she would come home soon for without her the green-haired Princess felt incomplete.
The Moon Princess's eyes were grave as she felt the moods of the others but even though she wished that she could do something to lighten their minds she was too lost in her own brooding to think of anything to say. Her Mother's feeling of sadness and loss over Universe made her feel an ache inside that was identical to her Mother's – however the Moon Princess also felt that she had failed the purple-haired girl.
There was an almost defiant look on Jupiter's face as she walked alongside Mars but her green eyes were strangely subdued for her – a striking opposite to her expression. She didn't want to admit it but Jupiter knew that if she could have brought Universe back to the Moon Kingdom by giving the word then she'd have done it without a moment's hesitation.
The hefty brown-haired girl had never believed that she would feel this way but she actually wanted Universe to return and bring an end to the sadness that her departure had left among her friends. Even at her very worst Universe was way better than watching Mercury suffering so badly and to her own disbelief Jupiter realised suddenly that Universe's absence had made a devastating effect on herself.
Jupiter hadn't ever realised it before but recently she had felt that the strong purple-haired girl had been an important part of her life – she'd been a person for her to match her strength against, an opponent for her to strive to grow skilful enough to beat her one day.
A reason for her to increase her strength. Now that she was gone Jupiter just felt empty…and cheated now that all of her training had come to nothing.
Mars was the only member of the group whose face didn't look clouded as she and her friends walked down the metal steps and set foot upon the earth of the Outer Moon. Over the last few months she had gotten to spend more time than ever with Charon who had she had felt had drifted away from her when Universe had arrived.
Comforting Charon whenever she had been thinking sadly about the missing girl and listening with sympathetic silence whenever the green-haired Princess had mentioned just how deeply she missed Universe, Mars had become her friend's main confidante once again. But now that she had her to herself again the raven-haired Princess had been dismayed to find that it wasn't as wonderful as she had expected it to be. Even though she had gotten back her friend's full attention Mars was beginning to feel sadder and sadder along with Charon. Mars had wanted to be as close as she had been to her before Universe had come into their lives but she had never wanted her friend to be sad…if this was the price that she had to pay to have Charon all to herself again then Mars realised that it wasn't worth it at all. After all it didn't matter at all if she had lost the green-haired girl in some tiny way when she had made friends with Universe if she was still able to see Charon's lovely smile and the warmth of her eyes when times were good.
With a sinking heart Mars realised dismally that she had not been acting like Charon's best friend at all…instead she had played the part of a jealous, selfish girl while Universe had been living with them and ever since she had gone she had been making the most of the pain that her loss had caused her friend. The raven-haired girl felt ill as she looked across to Charon who didn't suspect a single thing…
In thoughtful silence the group followed Queen Serenity who had walked through the Palace gates and come to a stop in the courtyard where her eyes shone as she gazed at the figure who had appeared in the near distance.
Queen Chara smiled at the Lunarian across the short distance and at once it struck Serenity that something peculiar lurked in her friend's eyes as she watched her. The Queen of the Moon knew her well enough to feel quite certain of what she felt as she looked at the mysterious grin on her friends face – that she had a secret.
A secret that she would have loved to share...
"Chara!" Serenity hailed the green-haired woman pleasantly. "You came to meet us!"
"Why of course." Chara returned cheerily as the Princesses reached them. "No tiresome formalities in the Throne Room on a splendid day like this for us! But I'm sure that you must be wondering why I asked you to come."
"Indeed." Serenity nodded as she watched Chara's face carefully – she was sure that she had glimpsed a meaningful glint in her eyes.
Princess Charon had hurried down the steps as fast as she possibly could and now rushed to her Mother who she swiftly caught in an embrace. "Mother – the Lyanore ARE alright aren't they?" she blurted – she had been frantic ever since Serenity had read out her Fathers letter and she had learned about what had happened the day before. "None of them got hurt did they?"
"Of course not!" Chara assured her daughter soothingly and Serenity's eyes expressed the surge of relief that Charon felt at that moment.
Chara glanced at the Princesses and thought quickly – making up her mind she nodded and smiled at them. "I was thinking that perhaps you would like to see them Charon – I'm certain that Charrenity would be happy to see you again after all this time anyway."
Charon's face brightened at the mention of the Dance Leader's name but all the same she gave her mother a curious look – she was sure that she sensed that there was a reason for her Mothers suggestion that she go to visit the Lyanore…a reason other than seeing Charrenity.
"And I was also thinking that you might like to take the others to meet the Lyanore as well." Chara went on, laying her ground carefully. "I know that you can find your way to the Plains on your own and I am sure that your friends would like to see them."
"I'd love to!" Venus exclaimed as her blue eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing the beautiful and noble creatures that Charon had often talked about. "I'd love to go visiting the Lyanore!"
Estrella shuffled in Charon's arms with expectation – she had seen the Lyanore in the memory that Charon had once telepathically shared with herself and Serenity but the thought of seeing them for herself filled the kitten with excitement.
Charon smiled – she was puzzled by her Mother's manner but now that she was going to see Charrenity she was just as eager as Venus and Estrella to set off. As her Mother had said it had been a long time since she had last seen the Lyanore-girl – indeed the last time had been when they had said goodbye to each other on the day she had gone to stay in the Moon Kingdom and now she really wanted to catch up with her.
"Very well then – shall we go?" the green-haired Princess turned to lead her friends through the gates and towards the Plains of Ayadi which lay in the near distance.
"Be sure to have a good time girls." Serenity reminded them before they left. "This will certainly be an experience for you all."
The Queen of the Moon smiled as she remembered the time long ago when she and Princess Chara had crept out of this very Palace late in the night – they had both been young and it had been the exciting night that her friend had introduced Serenity to Vaura during the first time the Princess of the Inner Moon had paid a visit to Charon along with the Plutonian Princess. To the Lunarian Princess the leader of the Lyanore had seemed like a wonderful dream – her depthless black eyes had been so wise and beautiful that they had enchanted the Princess as she had gazed down at her and their light had been reflected in Serenity's eyes where it remained to that very day.
Serenity had been heartbroken on the day that Charon had sadly told her that Vaura had died but she still wanted her own daughter and the others to be able to see perhaps the noblest creatures ever to have lived – the Lyanore.
"Have a good time dear – be sure to come back in a while so that we can spend some of the day together as well." Chara told her daughter who nodded briskly.
Good…that had gone perfectly. Now all that she could do was wait…and hope.
As the Princesses walked away into the direction of the Plains of Ayadi to meet the Lyanore Mercury walked slowly at the back of the group – the only reason that she accompanied her friends was that she was expected to go with them.
Mercury's face was set in the same sombre expression and there wasn't a trace of enthusiasm in it...and yet she did follow her friends on their trip to visit those wonderful creatures. Old habits died hard and she had always desired to see a Lyanore at close quarters - and who knew? Perhaps this chance to meet the creatures that Universe loved so much would help her shed some of the pain that she felt because of her friend's absence from her life...
"How is she?" Chara asked Serenity when they were alone – concern was written all over her face as the blue-haired girl slouched away after the others.
Serenity sighed sadly. "She is as you can imagine. After Universe left she just grew more and more distant." She replied worriedly. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I have considered writing to her Mother and asking her for advice."
Chara nodded sympathetically but she had a strong hope that this might be the day that the Mercurian's misery came to an end. "Well…I am sure that you will be able to work it out somehow." She said her voice assuring. "Will you accompany me for tea Serenity?"
"Wait – first tell me Chara." Serenity replied firmly and her eyes were questioning now. "What was the reason that you requested us to come here? Why today? I know you and I can feel that you had some reason for this."
Chara thought carefully about what she was going to say – she reminded herself of the promise she had made to Universe but she didn't want her best friend to think that she was keeping secrets from her. If everything went as she had planned then soon this entire mess might be brought to a happy conclusion soon.
Soon…
"All in good time dear Serenity." Chara smiled linking arms with her silver-haired woman. "Patience – I'll let you in on it soon enough."
Serenity gave an exaggerated sigh as she was led into the Palace for a spot of catching up coupled together by a cup of good strong Charonian tea.
~*~*~
"Oh my…" the Moon Princess exclaimed as she gazed at the white plain that she and her friends were picking their way across. "So beautiful."
"I feel like I'm right in the middle of the legend of the Outer Moon Princess." Venus added.
"Well – we've got the legend herself right here so I'd say that we sort of are." Jupiter grinned as she glanced at Charon who was leading the group on. "How do you feel about that story anyway Charon?"
Charon looked back over her shoulder. "Honestly Jupiter I've never really given it a lot of thought." She remarked thoughtfully. "I know that the story is supposed to be about me but to tell you the truth whenever I hear it being told I just can't imagine the person being me somehow. I don't know why I feel that way but it really feels as if I'm listening to a story about somebody else…somebody as different from me as I can imagine."
"Really?" Jupiter frowned. "That's strange…I mean it's a story based on you Charon. It makes your being born a miracle and a symbol of hope for people who are lonely everywhere. I mean how many people are there who can say that about themselves?"
Charon wrinkled her nose. "I know, I know…I should feel honoured." She sighed. "But sometimes it's almost like I have to play a part Jupiter – like whenever somebody looks at me they're expecting me to be perfect and wonderful…like a character from a story. And I just can't be like that all the time."
The Moon Princess turned and looked at her in concern – she didn't like to hear any of her friends sounding so downhearted. "Oh you are so much more than that Charon." She assured the green-haired girl. "We don't think of you as a character – to all of us you are a friend."
"That's right. None of us expect you to do anything wonderful to fit in amongst us." Mars put in as she walked quicker so that she reached Charon's side. "We like you for who you are Charon, who we know you to be not because of what some story makes you out to be."
Charon frowned slightly. "What do you mean 'makes me out to be'…?" she began.
"Listen to her Charon." The Moon Princess interrupted firmly. "You are wonderful just as you are so don't worry about what people might expect of you – just let them take you as they find you and they'll love you just as much as we do."
Charon smiled and wondered how she had ever gotten by without the friends she had now – she could never imagine ever going back to the life she had lived before she had gone to the Moon Kingdom.
~*~*~
Unbeknownst to the girls two sharp points of light glimmered from out of the shadows of the dark forest in the distance, moving so that they were always directed at the six girls – the Princesses were being watched. A soft hiss filtered from the shadows beneath the trees and a pair of eyes glinted as the creature watched and waited in the darkness – its eyes flickered with an unsettling mixture of emotions. Hunger…fear…a strange senselessness as if whatever this creature was it did not know where it was nor what it was doing here. For the present it stooped low beneath the trees at the edge of the forest and simply crouched watching the girls as they walked in the distance, waiting until the moment it felt ready…
~*~*~
Estrella was unusually quiet – her eyes were worried as she rode in Charon's arms. The kitten had a strange tingling feeling…she was sure that there were a pair of unfriendly eyes staring coldly at her but she couldn't imagine why she felt this way in these beautiful Plains so she didn't say a word.
Venus glanced over to her right and stopped so suddenly in her tracks that Jupiter almost bumped into her. "Oh my…gorgeous!" she breathed as her eyes widened.
Venus was staring at a small field of light-blue flowers which swayed gentle in the cool and gentle breeze and shimmered like a field of azure stars – it was the flower-field which Ayadi loved so dearly that she would spend hours lying in it and listening to the blossoms rustling.
"Those flowers are so wonderful." The Moon Princess remarked as they all stopped to look at the field. "What are they Charon?"
"Those flowers?" Charon exclaimed brightly, in high spirits again now that her moment of self-doubt was behind her. "Oh they're called…" she trailed off into silence as she felt that something very unusual had just happened – or rather not happened.
"Charon?" Jupiter prompted her.
"Er…Mercury?" the green-haired Princess spoke to the Mercurian as she looked over at her and then coughed meaningfully.
The Mercurian was standing a little way apart from the rest of them and her eyes were lowered as she thought – normally she would have told them the name of the flowers by now but now she hadn't even been paying attention to what her friends had been talking about.
Mercury raised her eyes slowly and met Charon's waiting gaze – she had been so lost in her own sad thoughts that she had not heard even a word that her friends had exchanged since they had set off. "Yes?" she asked quietly – her voice too quiet even for her.
"Could you tell us what these flowers are called?" Charon asked mildly despite the fact that she knew perfectly well already.
Mercury looked over indifferently at the flower-field. "Star-orchids." She replied without so much as blinking. "They aren't covered with snow just like the rest of the plain because the pollen that they give off bathes their area in a field of warmth."
The Princess's gazed at her as she lapsed into silence again – Mercury's voice had sounded so empty, it seemed as if she didn't care about anything that she saw around her. All of the other five girls knew what each other was thinking…
'We have to talk about this.'
"You know Mercury…I would like to bring some of these flowers home." Charon remarked slowly. "I think that I'll stay and pick some."
"I'll stay and help you." Venus offered as she got the idea.
The others volunteered just as enthusiastically except for Mercury who simply stood and gazed over the horizon – she'd gone back to her own thoughts which didn't include them or the Outer Moon.
"Why don't you go on ahead while we gather the flowers Mercury?" the Moon Princess suggested cheerfully. "There are more than enough of us to do it – you can walk on for a little while and we can catch up with you presently."
Mercury gazed at her – she sensed that her friends wanted her to go on without them for a reason – they were probably tired of her gloominess and wanted her to go away.
Without a word she turned and walked away from them – she felt so sick of everything all of a sudden that she did what they wanted so that she could be alone for a while and brood a little more about how bad her life had become since her best friend had walked out of it.
The Princesses watched as she faded into the distance like a grey shadow when the sun rose in morning – then as soon as she was too far away to hear them they turned to face each other with serious and meaningful looks on their faces – the matter on all their minds was a lot more important to them than gathering flowers.
Charon let Estrella down and immediately she raced off into the direction of the flower-field. There was no point in spoiling the kitten's day even if they were going to talk about something sad after all.
"She cannot go on like this." the Moon Princess declared seriously though her face was worried as she began the discussion about the blue-haired girl. "If this goes on then she might…" she trailed into silence as she did not like to go on with that thought.
"I don't see what we can do." Mar remarked softly.
"We can do what we are here for – we can take care of our friend." Venus spoke up. "But there's only so much that we can do for her until Universe…" Jupiter gave a tiny groan. "Don't say it Venus." She growled in exasperation. "Look I know that Mercury's really hung up over her but if Universe was going to come back then don't you think she would have by now? Think about it!"
Venus floundered in the face of what seemed like the harsh truth. "But Universe…" she protested.
"…isn't coming back and you know it as well as I do!" Jupiter snapped. "What Mercury should do is get over her."
"NO!" the Moon Princess cried loudly and the others looked at her in surprise. "Jupiter we don't just forget about out friends while they are gone! We have to remember Universe and have faith in her for Mercury's sake."
Jupiter was silent for a moment – the fact was that she felt a little ashamed of herself. "What if she never comes back?" she asked plainly. "What will we do for Mercury if Universe really is gone for good?"
This question the Moon Princess couldn't answer but her response said more than any resolve to Jupiter's doubts could have done. "She has to Jupiter." Her blue eyes were sincere and her voice heartfelt as she spoke quietly. "She just has to."
The group were sombrely silent for a few moments – there really was nothing else that anybody could say after that.
Meanwhile the eyes that had watched them from afar for so long no longer gleamed in the darkness of the forest – now that the pack of six had divided itself the hunter in the darkness had decided to track down the lamb that had strayed from the fold…
~*~*~
Mercury walked very far before she had to feel the tiredness in her legs no matter how little she cared about it.
With a weary and bitter sigh she stopped walking and decided that she simply couldn't be bothered to go on for another step. Oh I wonder what they're doing right now? She thought as she slowly sat down on a smooth boulder to rest from her walking – she'd walked a far way from the others. I suppose that they will be talking about me.
Mercury's eyes were distant and sorrowful as she wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them up to her chest and looked up at the sky. Once more she could see the stars. Once again she ignored them as she thought about her friend who she had not seen for so long now – she knew that the others were always there for her but she desperately wanted to look at Universe's face again.
Universe…I miss you. Oh I miss you so much. She thought as her blue eyes glistened, tears threatening to come. I wish that you could hear me say this – ever since you left I've been sure that you're in trouble and need my help. Why can't I be like you…free to fly where I wish like a bird? I know you better than anyone else…you're a part of me. Can't you see that I don't care where you came from? I just want you back!
Mercury lowered her head and closed her eyes knowing that this was no use. No matter how she felt about her Universe wasn't going to come back as if nothing had happened just because she wanted her to – she would feel this pain for days to come and it would only get worse with every day that she remembered the friend she had lost.
Tears trickled freely down her face – the truth hurt.
But the Mercurian Princess's tears were suddenly forgotten as she felt something – an unpleasant tingling running up her back.
She wasn't alone...
Instinctively she looked up, up, up until her eyes came to rest on a long branch hanging a little way above the boulder she was sitting on…the other thing that she saw caused every bone in her body to lock into place.
A pair of eyes narrowed and filled with hate locked her in their baleful stare – this was the creature that had been lurking in the forest. It had followed her here to this remote spot and now held her in its unblinking stare.
Mercury stayed sitting on the boulder as she gazed up at the beast crouching on the tree – the expression on her face was empty. Mercury was frozen like a rabbit staring at the gleaming fangs of the beast and couldn't so much as blink.
The predator was positioned in such a way that she had a perfect view of it in all of its glory – it was wolf-like in appearance and its body was covered in brown fur but the most noteworthy thing about it was that its arms and legs were like those of a human and that it clutched the branch in its front paws and balanced with the back two.
Its jaws were wide open and she could have counted the fangs one by one as it's tongue lolled in its mouth – idly Mercury noticed that its left eye was purple and the other was green. This struck a chord in her – a memory of something but she couldn't quite seem to put her finger on what it could be…
A low and surprisingly unsteady growl grated from the beast's jaws and the depth of her situation crashed down over her like a tide of ice-cold water.
Mercury leapt up from the boulder – her stomach did a cartwheel. What was she doing critically studying the beast as it watched her every slightest move, her every breath and waited for its moment to strike?
Mercury screamed in terror before she could stop herself – though if she'd had time to think about it then she'd have probably cried out anyway – and backed off, stumbling as she tried to get away. If the quick-witted Princess had stopped to think then she would have realised that she was doing the very thing that the beast had been waiting for and kept completely still and silent until somebody arrived to help her…but under the dark discoloured eyes of the predator reason seemed to fall apart and instead she panicked.
As Mercury staggered away the beast in the tree saw her moment of weakness and smelling her fear it crouched low and bounded out of the branches…however it was at this moment that Mercury had an incredible stroke of luck.
As she had backed away in blind terror the Mercurian had forgotten all about the boulder that she had been sitting on before she'd jumped to her feet – the boulder right behind her. The blue-haired Princess gasped in shock as she walked backwards into the rock and toppled over it and onto the ground behind.
As its prey fell the beast was deprived of its target and crashed onto the surface of the boulder where it slumped senselessly, shocked by the impact. The Mercurian was dazed and confused as she lay on the ground. Then remembering her danger she tried to get to her feet but the world spun sickeningly around her – all the breath had been knocked from her by the fall.
A growl filtered through the air which though cool now seemed suffocating – the beast had recovered and was already back on its paws. Mercury was stricken with terror but she couldn't move – she couldn't get away.
Suddenly all of it seemed so pointless. The Mercurian couldn't cope with the sheer intensity of what was happening to her and with one last sob of fear she fainted clean out as everything around her blurred and she knew no more.
The beast lolled its tongue as the slender girl slumped flat on the ground and lay very still…and defenceless. Dropping into a crouch it howled madly and tensed itself to pounce upon the fainted girl…
~*~*~
"Mercury?!!" Mars gasped as her face whipped around to stare into the direction that the scream had echoed from.
The Princesses all stared towards the trees from which the scream had come – their faces were covered in shock. The Moon Princess was white-faced – the cry had sounded so fearful.
"She's in trouble!" she exclaimed. "We have to go and help her!"
"Shouldn't we go and get help?" Venus asked doubtfully.
"It'll be too late by the time we've fetched anyone!" Jupiter snapped as she took off towards the trees by herself.
Charon hesitated and then she looked down at Estrella who had run back to her when Mercury's scream had filled the air for that terrible moment. "Estrella – listen to me!" she said firmly as she knelt down to look at the kitten, "Go back to the Palace and bring help! Alright?!!"
Without waiting for her to answer the green-haired Princess got back to her feet and set off after her friends who were making off in the direction that Mercury had headed into when they had last seen her.
Left all by herself Estrella stood rooted to the snowy ground in terror – she'd been shaken by the scream and now as she watched the girls heading away to danger she was filled with doubt…she didn't know what to do. For a moment the kitten turned to go back just as Charon had told her but she froze before she even took a step.
Estrella felt that she would be more needed with the Princesses…she couldn't understand why but she was sure of it and so she turned and started after them, her legs almost sinking in the snow as she ran.
~*~*~
But already the danger that Mercury had been in had come and gone.
Mercury still lay on the ground but she was totally unharmed – her hands had been crossed over her stomach and her face was calm as she lay in a swoon.
The beast that had threatened her now lay on its side dead with its neck pierced by a very long silver spear.
Rula's face was covered in shock as she knelt down by the blue-haired girl's side and gazed intently at her face. The huntress had only arrived just in time to bring the beast down before it leapt at the Princess but when she'd walked over and looked at the face of the girl she'd saved her heart had almost stopped as she had recognized her.
What are you doing here? The huntress thought with a dazed look on her face as she picked Mercury up and carried her into the middle of the clearing, away from the dead beast. Why did you come to Charon on today of all days?
One thing was for sure – she couldn't stay here now. She couldn't let Mercury see her like this.
Mercury…I don't think you can know just how much I've wanted to see you. Rula thought as she tenderly laid the blue-haired girl on the ground. It's weird…I spent every day since I left the Moon Kingdom thinking about what I'd say if I ever saw you again. But now that we meet again it doesn't matter because you won't hear me.
Every bone in her body screamed at her to get as far away from here and Mercury as she could before the girl came to and saw her but as if they were working in spite of her good sense Rula knelt and gazed at her face for a moment.
A fierce desperate longing cried out to her from the depths of her heart – it had been there inside her ever since the night she had looked at Mercury for the very first time and now it was overwhelmingly tempting.
For so long now she'd longed for this moment…to kiss Mercury. Now she could go ahead and do it and the Princess never needed to know about it. Rula's heart beat furiously as her burning longing screamed for her to work its will and for a fleeting second she almost surrendered to her desire…but she didn't.
It wasn't that she didn't want to. She did. She wanted to kiss her so much and if she did she'd be happier than she'd ever been in her life…
But it wouldn't be real. Just like the love that Tyra had stolen from Corissa with her song, kissing Mercury now would be nothing but a betrayal of her friend's trust and that was that one thing she could never bear to do.
Rula sighed and reached down to touch Mercury's cheek. This is it I guess…goodbye Mercury. I'll miss ya.
Then her fingers froze an inch or two away from Mercury's face – the hairs on the back of her neck were tingling so furiously that they were standing up on end!
Acting out of a burst of instinct the huntress dropped low and the ball of crackling lightning that had been hurtling straight at her rocketed over her head missing her by an inch.
Rula leapt to her feet as the ball hit a tree on the far side of the clearing but before she knew what was going on the stunned girl was confronted by a angry-eyed girl. "Get away from her." growled Princess Jupiter as she glowered at Rula – her green eyes smouldered as her palm crackled in preparation for another Sparkling Wide-Pressure.
The Moon Princess, Mars, Venus and Charon had hurried up and now they all stood a short way off as they watched the confrontation in astonishment.
Charon frowned as she gazed at the strange-looking girl who Jupiter was accosting – she couldn't understand it but she felt strangely towards this stranger. "Wait Jupiter!" she exclaimed as she took a step forward to intervene. "You can't just attack her!"
"Yes!" the Moon Princess agreed. "Give her the chance to have her say about what happened."
Jupiter just snorted in scorn. "Come on! I caught her kneeling over Mercury…what more proof do we need that she was going to hurt her!" she growled as her eyes narrowed.
Rula flinched as she heard the accusation in Jupiter's voice. Looking around she locked eyes with each of the Princesses as she completely ignored the dangerous thunder that growled at the tips of Jupiter's fingers.
The apprehensive looks that she saw in the eyes of her friends stung her – how could any of them think that she would hurt Mercury?
Then she realised just how she must look to them in her huntress garb and with her hair drenched in blood. As she lowered her head Rula closed her eyes sadly. It was just as she'd feared…she could never go back to them.
Without a single word to defend herself she turned to walk away and never look back – but at that moment Estrella caught up with the group.
The kitten was almost exhausted but as she looked around at the clearing and the people standing in it her eyes fell upon the huntress and she stopped panting and stared at her. For a moment Estrella stood in the snow that drenched her short legs and gazed at the fearsome looking girl – and then her eyes widened as she sensed that she knew her.
Suddenly Estrella went mad with joy as she realised who this was. "Universe!" she squealed. "Universe!"
Charon and the others looked down at her in amazement – what?!!
Without a word the kitten ran past them and caught up with Rula. "Universe…'Strella missed you!" Estrella cried as she jumped up onto the girl's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek.
Rula stopped in her tracks and looked at the kitten in wonder – Estrella knew who she was?
"Did…I just hear right?" Venus exclaimed gazing at this scene with widened eyes.
"She can't be!" Mars stuttered as she stared at Rula in disbelief. "…can she?"
Rula stood looking at Estrella, wondering what she should do and then a faint murmur reached her ears.
Mercury was coming to and as her eyes opened weakly the blue-haired girl looked up at the people who gathered around her. "What…happened?" she murmured in a small and puzzled voice.
"Mercury!" cried the Moon Princess as her eyes shone with relief. "You're alright!"
Silently Mercury pulled herself into a sitting position and thought hard as she tried to remember – and then she gazed inquisitively over to where Rula was standing.
From that very second she was seized by an unaccountable and yet undeniable feeling that she knew this girl - as the certainty took hold of her the blue-haired Princess gazed with a tiny thoughtful frown at the scantily clad stranger and then her eyes widened in sudden shock…she knew.
"Universe?" she whispered as she slowly rose to her feet hardly daring to believe that it could be true. "is it…you?"
At the sound of her cherished voice Rula turned around and looked back at her – as she gazed lovingly at Mercury the blue-haired girl was able to see her eyes and she gasped.
Mercury recognized those deeply beautiful and warm eyes… "Uniiiiiveeeersssse!" she screeched as she ran over to her friend who had been lost to her and now had come back to her. "Where have you been?!!"
Rula staggered as Mercury flung her arms around her without waiting for an answer – she nearly fell onto her back as doubt swam through her mind for one moment. But then Mercury pulled her close and that tiny whisper was silenced.
As the girls watched with open mouths Queen Serenity arrived in the clearing at that moment – by her side walked Queen Chara who wore a sly grin on her face as she led her friend over to the group.
In silence Serenity frowned and then turned her head to gaze at the reunion – when she saw Universe with Mercury in her arms she gasped with amazement but for the time being she did not say or do anything to interrupt as the two giggled and cuddled.
Eventually Rula happened to glance over her friends shoulder and spotted Serenity standing only a short distance away – she froze.
Serenity's expression was quite thoughtful as she gazed at the girl she had not seen for a long time but otherwise Rula could not tell what she might be thinking as she gazed across at her lilac eyes.
Without breathing a word Rula let go of Mercury who she stood gently to one side and walked over to the group – handing Estella to Charon as she passed the green-haired Princess - to get to the moment that she had been thinking about the day before.
As she stood awkwardly before her Serenity gazed long and thoughtfully at Rula. "You have learnt something." She eventually declared. "Since I saw you last."
"Uhhh…have I?" Rula stammered nervously.
"Yes." Serenity replied nodding firmly with that grave and searching look still on her serious and regal face. "You have learned that it is not enough to love – you must also be able to accept love from others."
Rula was almost trembling in unbearable suspense as she waited for the Queen to show her how she felt towards her after the way that she had run off – was she angry with her or what?
For an agonizing moment longer Serenity's eyes remained serious and unreadable and then an expansive smile lit her face and she spread her arms wide to embrace the girl. "You have come a long way Universe – and I welcome you back." She concluded warmly.
Rula felt weak with relief as she walked gladly forward into Serenity's welcoming arms. "You'll have me back?" she whispered as Serenity's arms wrapped tightly around her. "I mean after the way I walked out it'd serve me right if you just…"
"Don't be ridiculous." Serenity laughed softly as she pulled her so close that she could not doubt how she felt. "Anyway…I don't think that you are quite ready to be living on your own just yet Universe. You are to come back at once…alright?"
Rula slid her arms around Queen Serenity and without caring who saw her she wept out of sheer relief.
After Serenity had given her a little while to dry her eyes she took her arms back from around Rula and put her hands on her shoulders. As she moved Rula back just a step she gazed at her for a long while as if she were trying to store this picture of her the way she was now for the sake of the future…make a memory.
"Universe – come home." Serenity told the girl in a crystal clear voice.
It was neither a request nor a command but Rula thought that it was the most wonderful thing she'd ever heard. "Yes." She whispered happily.
Serenity nodded and then let go of her – as Venus and Charon walked up to Rula and hauled her over to the others she faced Chara who had been watching all the time with a smile on her face. "You knew she was here all the time!" the silver-haired Queen exclaimed in anger.
"Naturally." Chara replied as the sight of Serenity's indignant expression caused her face to split into a grin.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Serenity demanded in exasperation. "'Don't you think that it feels like the right sort of time to take a walk'? Ha!"
Chara looked at her for a moment and then shrugged. "I promised." She explained then she burst into a peal of merry laughter as Serenity just put her hand over her eyes and sighed.
Princess Charon had bided her time as she had waited for Mercury and Rula to share their special moment together – now as her Mother and the Inner Moon Princess' Mother argued and the Princesses watched, opened mouth, she walked over to Rula.
"And now we are SEVEN again." Smiled the green-haired Princess and Rula turned to face her.
The huntress grunted as Charon took her hands. "Incredible…one for every day of the week." She retorted as she squeezed Princess Charon's hands.
Glad to BE seven again, girl…
~*~*~
Some time later…
"Well…" Chara smiled as she turned to watch Rula cross the threshold of the Royal Palace of Charon. "Here you are at last!"
Rula took a careless look around and then shrugged. "Nice set of digs you got here." She evaluated the palace grounds blandly. "Beats a night in the hedge-row in any case."
The group had been to visit the Lyanore in the Plains of Ayadi where they had spent the rest of the afternoon – the Princesses of the inner galaxy had been enthralled by the proud creatures and Rula had found herself regarded with gratitude and respect by the whole tribe who had by now heard from Charrenity about the way she had fought for them.
Of course the truth had come out then and ever since Charon had done nothing but shower her with gratitude for having saved Charrenity's life and Noulo, gushing upon the one who had saved the life of her daughter Ayadi, had gone so far as to tell her that she was a heroine and deserved a medal for what she had done.
Honestly Rula had found it all incredibly embarrassing though she'd been glad to talk to Charrenity without being afraid of being found by the Royal Guards – the young Lyanore really did remind her of Vaura and though being with her stirred up all of her painful memories the huntress felt glad to still have her old friend with her through her daughter.
After the visit the group had returned to the Palace – and Rula had come with them this time. Serenity and Chara had agreed that the party from the Moon Kingdom would spend the night there and return to the Moon with the newly found Princess the next morning.
Right now Mercury was standing by Rula's side with her arm wrapped around her friend's slender waist and a smile of contentment on her face. The blue-haired Princess had been sticking as closely to Rula as she could ever since she had finally found her friend again and she didn't plan to disengage until she absolutely had to. Rula had been so content to soak in the warmth that she felt with Mercury's arm wrapped around her waist that she hadn't realised until they had been half of the way back to the Charonian Kingdom that she had forgotten to retrieve her spear – her Gafgarion still pierced the stilled heart of the Devil-Wolf.
What had startled her more however was the fact that she hadn't felt desperate to go back for her beloved spear – as she had held her friend close to her she had felt thoughts of Gafgarion drift away and realised that it didn't really matter at all. The spear was a part of the life that she had now left behind…the life of the roaming hunter. Sadly the huntress had sent out a fond farewell to Gafgarion, her spear that had saved her so many time and then without regret she had walked onward…leaving the past behind her as she walked towards her future. Anyway…she had the feeling that her spear would have understood – she'd always thought of Gafgarion as more a companion than a weapon – and that if she ever needed its help again then it would be there waiting for her hand…
Waiting for them as they arrived were King Char and Prince Char. The King of Charon greeted Serenity pleasantly and then turned his head towards the Princesses…and as soon as he glimpsed Rula his expression changed to a particularly odd look.
Just one look at the scantily clad girl whose hair was drenched many different colours gave him cause for surprise. Just as the King was about to say something on the subject of his wife's choice of guests however he noticed the way in which this girl's eyes sparkled and closed his mouth again – he realised that this was Princess Universe.
As if that made it all right!
Rula noticed that he was staring at her with that blank look on his face and grinned impudently at him. "Hey there your Majesty!" she raised her hand and waved cheerily at him. "Great weather we're having huh? It's another bitingly cold winter's day on Charon as per norm!"
Thinking hastily the King decided that whatever the reason for her attire and drastic choice in hair colouring could be they were both Universe's business. "Indeed your Highness." He replied with a charming smile and then tactfully said no more.
Char's ears pricked up at Rula's comment. "Are you cold?" he exclaimed as he headed towards her. "Do you need…?"
"Oh stop that Char." his Mother scolded with a grin on her face.
Serenity also smiled but then she gazed at the spot just below Rula's neckline and the look froze on her face. "What is that?" she demanded, her voice suddenly sharp as she frowned at the glinting collar around Rula's neck.
Without waiting for a reply she reached out and touched the collar – as her fingertips brushed lightly against the cold cruel metal the Queen breathed a single soft gasp of shock.
Serenity could feel the wickedness locked within the enchanted metal emanating from within its intricately crafted sides and she felt sickened by its utter malevolence and its very presence around the neck of somebody she cared for. "I want it removed from her." She said sharply as she turned and looked at Chara urgently. "I don't want that…that thing touching her!"
The green-haired woman nodded gravely as she read the anxiety in her friend's eyes. "Dear..." Chara's face was perfectly serious as she turned towards her husband. "We have a very serious matter to be dealt with."
The King frowned in concern as he looked into the eyes of his beloved and realised that whatever the problem was it must be extremely urgent. "What is it?" he rumbled deeply.
Chara beckoned to Rula. "Come over to us Universe."
The huntress approached her warily and placing her hand on her shoulder Chara stood her before her husband. "Here it is." she said grimly as she traced her own fingers along the metal collar locked in place around Rula's neck and shuddered in disgust – she too could feel the evil will of the metal. "This depraved thing must be removed immediately. Can we…?"
King Char's face had clouded over in concern as soon as he'd set eyes on the gleaming metal – a member of nobility could feel the insidious magicks that had been weaved into the making of the collar as soon as they set eyes on it. "Let me see." he growled deeply as he stepped closer to Rula and inspected the collar. "My…that is a nasty piece of work isn't it?"
"Yes." Serenity agreed wholeheartedly. "Is there anybody in your Kingdom who has the ability to unlock it? I will pay any…"
"Pffft! Hold still your Highness!" King Char requested and without waiting he took a firm hold of the enchanted collar in his hands and pulled both of its sides in opposite directions.
There was a metallic crunch and suddenly Rula could feel that her neck had become free at last.
Serenity, Chara and the Princesses were all opened mouth as they stared at the collar which was now in two mangled pieces in either of the King's hands. "Oh…goodness!" the Moon Princess whispered in wonder.
Rula smiled in relief as she rubbed the skin of her neck where the collar had been for the last two days. "Thanks big Char!" she said gratefully. "Could I study beneath you?"
King Char merely smiled dashingly at her as he clenched his hands and within seconds ground the evil metal into brittle dust. "Unfortunately your Highness my days are ever so slightly filled with dealing with matters of state." he replied with genuine regret. "Why don't you just go on training yourself?"
Queen Serenity just smiled and shook her head whimsically as she felt relieved.
Prince Char had been looking intently at Rula and as she caught his gaze she looked back at him in bemusement. "You know...if you don't tell me what's on your mind then you'll never get the chance to find out what I think about it." she remarked.
Char smiled in relief - something about Universe always made him feel that he could tell her anything he wanted to. "You know...there's somebody who I would like you to meet." he said shyly but without the nervousness that had once tied the end of his tongue whenever he'd tried to talk to a beautiful woman. "I have wanted this ever since the day you and I first spoke."
Rula looked at him in interest - as far as she could see everyone who both she and Char knew was already here so...
With a grin the Prince turned and called in the direction of the archway behind him. "Come and join us now - she's here to see you."
There was a moment during which nothing happened at all - then came the sound of small footsteps and a little girl who Rula's keen eyes judged to be about four years old came into sight as she walked around the corner of the archway.
Charon had guessed who the person her brother had wanted was by the sound of his voice when he had called for her and now an affectionate and knowing smile appeared on her face. Rula looked down appraisingly at the little girl as she stood in the archway, too nervous to go any further - Char went over to where she stood, tenderly took her hand and led her over to Rula who inspected her with interest.
The girl's faintly pale and delicate-looking skin together with her dark hair that gleamed like ebony told the huntress that she was a Palazean but the dress she wore had definitely been made by a Charonian. The girl was strikingly pretty as were all female Palazeans but unlike the war-like women of that world that had once been at war with Pluto and this moon her face was nervous as she stood in front of her as if she was afraid that she was going to eat her or something...
Smiling Rula bent her knees to stoop down in front of her - there was only one name that this girl could have and it came to her mouth without her even having to try to remember it. "Rika...hi." she said warmly as she automatically reached out and patted Char's adopted daughter on the cheek.
Rika's eyes which were as dark as onyx widened as the strange-looking woman touched her face but just as she was about to retreat behind her adoptive Father's back she stopped - Rula's light brown eyes were glowing as she looked at the little girl who she'd been told so much about the day after Queenship celebrations, her face intent now that she had the chance to see her for herself.
Breathing softly as she gazed up at the woman Rika opened her red-lipped mouth in surprise - those eyes reminded her of someone who'd once been nice to her but whose face and voice were now lost in the haze and whispering echoes of her young memory. All that she still remembered of that person was that she'd been beautiful and warm - just like the eyes of the woman gazing at her right now.
But she could remember nothing else - Rika was just too young to be able to remember anything about her dead mother.
"Do you know who she is Rika?" Char asked with emphasis.
"Good evening Princess Universe." Rika greeted the huntress, her light voice polite as she curtsied to her just like her Grandmother Queen Chara had been teaching her.
Rula widened her eyes and looked exactly as startled as she was - she didn't look up at Char but she didn't need to - she knew that his eyes were on her now and that they said "There...didn't I tell you?"
"What was the thing that attacked Mercury anyway?" Venus suddenly asked out loud.
Serenity looked up sharply as she heard that – evidently the girls had been talking amongst themselves on the way back to the Palace. "Attacked?" she demanded and raised her eyebrow questioningly.
"Charonian Devil-Wolf." Rula filled the Venusian in. "They live very deep in the forest and are usually peaceful, sometimes even nervous around humans. That one was crazy – you can always tell because a mad Devil-Wolf's eyes are always different colours."
"Attacked?" Serenity repeated as she raised her voice just a little.
"Come on Universe!" Charon declared as she took Rula's arm in her hand. "Let's go and find a room for you to sleep in tonight."
"Comin' Rika?" Rula asked the Palazean girl who looked startled by the invitation but as her Father gave her a little push hurried over to the group – Princess Charon laughed as she put an arm around her niece and fondly drew her close.
As Rula was led away Venus looked closely at her hair and pulled a face. "What did you use to dye your hair?" she asked and gave a theatrical shudder. "It looks awful!"
Queen Serenity stared after the departing Princesses with an almost blank look on her face. "Mercury was attacked by a Devil-Wolf?!!" she cried in shocked disbelief.
Queen Chara gently touched her shoulder and Serenity looked at her – to her surprise there was a thoughtful and slightly apprehensive look on the green-haired woman's face as she prepared to voice that thought which had been on her mind ever since she had heard that Universe had run away and the reason why.
"Serenity…why didn't you tell me that she used to be a Star Raider before?" Chara asked – the look on her face was slightly hurt.
Serenity gave her a surprised look and then her face took on a slightly defensive expression. "Why didn't you tell me that you had a daughter before the war Chara?" she demanded.
Chara blinked – she had not expected this. "Why to keep her safe of course!" she exclaimed anxious to explain the reason why she had not told her friend about Charon until the day she had needed Serenity to protect her. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you but at the time we were in danger from the Palazeans…I wanted to protect her!"
Serenity gazed at her friend with a prim smile on her face. "Exactly why I chose to keep Universe's past a secret Chara." She replied triumphantly. "I did it so that nobody would treat her differently. Oh I don't know…" she sighed and shook her head. "…perhaps I was wrong after all! Perhaps it is better this way. Now she can be herself without fear of what others might think of her."
Queen Chara thought about it for a moment and then she too sighed. "When we get inside we must drink a toast Serenity." she remarked wryly. "To a pair of very confused women."
The Hunter in the Darkness
The following afternoon…
Queen Serenity savoured the moment that she feasted her eyes on the natural splendour of Charon for the first time since she had become the ruler of her Kingdom.
On that day she had been obliged to relinquish much of her personal freedom and as she stood in the doorway of her personal spacecraft she took her time to breathe the cool crisp air…the Outer Moon had not changed since she had last been here.
Serenity's mouth quivered somewhere between a smile of contentment and a joyful grin but all through she was happy – but she checked herself and her face became a little sombre. The Queen reminded herself that she could not allow herself the luxury of enjoying herself while she had desperate business to attend to.
Universe was still missing and all that she ought to be thinking about was finding her and bringing her back to where she belonged – but the letter that she had received from King Char the day yesterday urging her to come for a visit, bringing the Princesses with her without delay had been so pressing that she had felt that she had simply had to agree.
Still she had felt reluctant to leave the urgent task in the hands of anybody else but she had made arrangements for the search for the missing Princess to be continued during her absence and prepared to leave for Charon with the Princesses.
Serenity gave a long sigh which misted as soon as it left her mouth – she was here now and so she decided to take the opportunity to forget her grief for a little while.
"Come now." Serenity prompted the Princesses mildly as she gazed around at the snowy landscape unable to take her eyes away from the beautiful spectacle.
Behind her followed her daughter, Venus, Charon, Mars, Jupiter and last of all Mercury who trailed half-heartedly at the back of her group, her eyes downcast and her face forlorn.
Over the many weeks that had passed since Universe had left the Moon Kingdom the blue-haired Princess had grown more and more distant and isolated from the rest of her friends whose efforts to bring her out of her sorrowful reverie had been useless. Mercury was so melancholy now and she had even stopped reading, not caring enough about anything to learn about it as much as she had once loved to absorb knowledge.
The one thing that she cared about was that she wanted her friend the purple-haired Princess back – that was the only thing that she ever thought about and recently the Mercurian had begun to spend most of her nights sitting by her window trying to picture where Universe was and what she was doing – she hardly went to meals and she felt worse with every day that went by.
Mercury had no idea when her misery would end but when she had woken that morning she had realised that no matter what the cost would be it had to end soon or she would go mad…
Queen Serenity had been firm and insisted that she accompany the rest of them on their trip to Charon secretly hoping that the prospect of seeing the wonders of the Outer Moon for herself (Which she had wanted to see so much ever since meeting Princess Charon for the first time.) would bring her out of her depression. The hope was deep but Serenity realised that Mercury would only really lose the sadness which dragged her down when Universe was back with her…nothing else would fill the hollow space in her heart but the return of the friend whose absence from her life had created that aching emptiness.
"Oh my…so like the Moon Kingdom!" Venus breathed as she stared around at the snow-bound countryside with fascinated eyes. "But it's so different at the same time!"
Charon was looking around with a smile on her face as she stood with Estrella held in her arms and basked in the wonderful familiarity of her home – she had been away from this place so that she could be among her friends for many months now and it felt good to be back but even better to have her friends with her as well.
Or most of them at least…
The green-haired Princess had begun to appreciate her friends even more than she'd ever valued them over the last couple of months since Universe had disappeared but even though most of the people she loved so much were still with her Charon felt that a part of her life had been torn away.
Without Universe her circle of friends was incomplete and that made her unhappy – how could she feel warm in the company of her friends when there was one of them who had strayed and was even now all alone?
Charon couldn't stop worrying about Universe for a second and she deeply hoped that she would come home soon for without her the green-haired Princess felt incomplete.
The Moon Princess's eyes were grave as she felt the moods of the others but even though she wished that she could do something to lighten their minds she was too lost in her own brooding to think of anything to say. Her Mother's feeling of sadness and loss over Universe made her feel an ache inside that was identical to her Mother's – however the Moon Princess also felt that she had failed the purple-haired girl.
There was an almost defiant look on Jupiter's face as she walked alongside Mars but her green eyes were strangely subdued for her – a striking opposite to her expression. She didn't want to admit it but Jupiter knew that if she could have brought Universe back to the Moon Kingdom by giving the word then she'd have done it without a moment's hesitation.
The hefty brown-haired girl had never believed that she would feel this way but she actually wanted Universe to return and bring an end to the sadness that her departure had left among her friends. Even at her very worst Universe was way better than watching Mercury suffering so badly and to her own disbelief Jupiter realised suddenly that Universe's absence had made a devastating effect on herself.
Jupiter hadn't ever realised it before but recently she had felt that the strong purple-haired girl had been an important part of her life – she'd been a person for her to match her strength against, an opponent for her to strive to grow skilful enough to beat her one day.
A reason for her to increase her strength. Now that she was gone Jupiter just felt empty…and cheated now that all of her training had come to nothing.
Mars was the only member of the group whose face didn't look clouded as she and her friends walked down the metal steps and set foot upon the earth of the Outer Moon. Over the last few months she had gotten to spend more time than ever with Charon who had she had felt had drifted away from her when Universe had arrived.
Comforting Charon whenever she had been thinking sadly about the missing girl and listening with sympathetic silence whenever the green-haired Princess had mentioned just how deeply she missed Universe, Mars had become her friend's main confidante once again. But now that she had her to herself again the raven-haired Princess had been dismayed to find that it wasn't as wonderful as she had expected it to be. Even though she had gotten back her friend's full attention Mars was beginning to feel sadder and sadder along with Charon. Mars had wanted to be as close as she had been to her before Universe had come into their lives but she had never wanted her friend to be sad…if this was the price that she had to pay to have Charon all to herself again then Mars realised that it wasn't worth it at all. After all it didn't matter at all if she had lost the green-haired girl in some tiny way when she had made friends with Universe if she was still able to see Charon's lovely smile and the warmth of her eyes when times were good.
With a sinking heart Mars realised dismally that she had not been acting like Charon's best friend at all…instead she had played the part of a jealous, selfish girl while Universe had been living with them and ever since she had gone she had been making the most of the pain that her loss had caused her friend. The raven-haired girl felt ill as she looked across to Charon who didn't suspect a single thing…
In thoughtful silence the group followed Queen Serenity who had walked through the Palace gates and come to a stop in the courtyard where her eyes shone as she gazed at the figure who had appeared in the near distance.
Queen Chara smiled at the Lunarian across the short distance and at once it struck Serenity that something peculiar lurked in her friend's eyes as she watched her. The Queen of the Moon knew her well enough to feel quite certain of what she felt as she looked at the mysterious grin on her friends face – that she had a secret.
A secret that she would have loved to share...
"Chara!" Serenity hailed the green-haired woman pleasantly. "You came to meet us!"
"Why of course." Chara returned cheerily as the Princesses reached them. "No tiresome formalities in the Throne Room on a splendid day like this for us! But I'm sure that you must be wondering why I asked you to come."
"Indeed." Serenity nodded as she watched Chara's face carefully – she was sure that she had glimpsed a meaningful glint in her eyes.
Princess Charon had hurried down the steps as fast as she possibly could and now rushed to her Mother who she swiftly caught in an embrace. "Mother – the Lyanore ARE alright aren't they?" she blurted – she had been frantic ever since Serenity had read out her Fathers letter and she had learned about what had happened the day before. "None of them got hurt did they?"
"Of course not!" Chara assured her daughter soothingly and Serenity's eyes expressed the surge of relief that Charon felt at that moment.
Chara glanced at the Princesses and thought quickly – making up her mind she nodded and smiled at them. "I was thinking that perhaps you would like to see them Charon – I'm certain that Charrenity would be happy to see you again after all this time anyway."
Charon's face brightened at the mention of the Dance Leader's name but all the same she gave her mother a curious look – she was sure that she sensed that there was a reason for her Mothers suggestion that she go to visit the Lyanore…a reason other than seeing Charrenity.
"And I was also thinking that you might like to take the others to meet the Lyanore as well." Chara went on, laying her ground carefully. "I know that you can find your way to the Plains on your own and I am sure that your friends would like to see them."
"I'd love to!" Venus exclaimed as her blue eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing the beautiful and noble creatures that Charon had often talked about. "I'd love to go visiting the Lyanore!"
Estrella shuffled in Charon's arms with expectation – she had seen the Lyanore in the memory that Charon had once telepathically shared with herself and Serenity but the thought of seeing them for herself filled the kitten with excitement.
Charon smiled – she was puzzled by her Mother's manner but now that she was going to see Charrenity she was just as eager as Venus and Estrella to set off. As her Mother had said it had been a long time since she had last seen the Lyanore-girl – indeed the last time had been when they had said goodbye to each other on the day she had gone to stay in the Moon Kingdom and now she really wanted to catch up with her.
"Very well then – shall we go?" the green-haired Princess turned to lead her friends through the gates and towards the Plains of Ayadi which lay in the near distance.
"Be sure to have a good time girls." Serenity reminded them before they left. "This will certainly be an experience for you all."
The Queen of the Moon smiled as she remembered the time long ago when she and Princess Chara had crept out of this very Palace late in the night – they had both been young and it had been the exciting night that her friend had introduced Serenity to Vaura during the first time the Princess of the Inner Moon had paid a visit to Charon along with the Plutonian Princess. To the Lunarian Princess the leader of the Lyanore had seemed like a wonderful dream – her depthless black eyes had been so wise and beautiful that they had enchanted the Princess as she had gazed down at her and their light had been reflected in Serenity's eyes where it remained to that very day.
Serenity had been heartbroken on the day that Charon had sadly told her that Vaura had died but she still wanted her own daughter and the others to be able to see perhaps the noblest creatures ever to have lived – the Lyanore.
"Have a good time dear – be sure to come back in a while so that we can spend some of the day together as well." Chara told her daughter who nodded briskly.
Good…that had gone perfectly. Now all that she could do was wait…and hope.
As the Princesses walked away into the direction of the Plains of Ayadi to meet the Lyanore Mercury walked slowly at the back of the group – the only reason that she accompanied her friends was that she was expected to go with them.
Mercury's face was set in the same sombre expression and there wasn't a trace of enthusiasm in it...and yet she did follow her friends on their trip to visit those wonderful creatures. Old habits died hard and she had always desired to see a Lyanore at close quarters - and who knew? Perhaps this chance to meet the creatures that Universe loved so much would help her shed some of the pain that she felt because of her friend's absence from her life...
"How is she?" Chara asked Serenity when they were alone – concern was written all over her face as the blue-haired girl slouched away after the others.
Serenity sighed sadly. "She is as you can imagine. After Universe left she just grew more and more distant." She replied worriedly. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I have considered writing to her Mother and asking her for advice."
Chara nodded sympathetically but she had a strong hope that this might be the day that the Mercurian's misery came to an end. "Well…I am sure that you will be able to work it out somehow." She said her voice assuring. "Will you accompany me for tea Serenity?"
"Wait – first tell me Chara." Serenity replied firmly and her eyes were questioning now. "What was the reason that you requested us to come here? Why today? I know you and I can feel that you had some reason for this."
Chara thought carefully about what she was going to say – she reminded herself of the promise she had made to Universe but she didn't want her best friend to think that she was keeping secrets from her. If everything went as she had planned then soon this entire mess might be brought to a happy conclusion soon.
Soon…
"All in good time dear Serenity." Chara smiled linking arms with her silver-haired woman. "Patience – I'll let you in on it soon enough."
Serenity gave an exaggerated sigh as she was led into the Palace for a spot of catching up coupled together by a cup of good strong Charonian tea.
~*~*~
"Oh my…" the Moon Princess exclaimed as she gazed at the white plain that she and her friends were picking their way across. "So beautiful."
"I feel like I'm right in the middle of the legend of the Outer Moon Princess." Venus added.
"Well – we've got the legend herself right here so I'd say that we sort of are." Jupiter grinned as she glanced at Charon who was leading the group on. "How do you feel about that story anyway Charon?"
Charon looked back over her shoulder. "Honestly Jupiter I've never really given it a lot of thought." She remarked thoughtfully. "I know that the story is supposed to be about me but to tell you the truth whenever I hear it being told I just can't imagine the person being me somehow. I don't know why I feel that way but it really feels as if I'm listening to a story about somebody else…somebody as different from me as I can imagine."
"Really?" Jupiter frowned. "That's strange…I mean it's a story based on you Charon. It makes your being born a miracle and a symbol of hope for people who are lonely everywhere. I mean how many people are there who can say that about themselves?"
Charon wrinkled her nose. "I know, I know…I should feel honoured." She sighed. "But sometimes it's almost like I have to play a part Jupiter – like whenever somebody looks at me they're expecting me to be perfect and wonderful…like a character from a story. And I just can't be like that all the time."
The Moon Princess turned and looked at her in concern – she didn't like to hear any of her friends sounding so downhearted. "Oh you are so much more than that Charon." She assured the green-haired girl. "We don't think of you as a character – to all of us you are a friend."
"That's right. None of us expect you to do anything wonderful to fit in amongst us." Mars put in as she walked quicker so that she reached Charon's side. "We like you for who you are Charon, who we know you to be not because of what some story makes you out to be."
Charon frowned slightly. "What do you mean 'makes me out to be'…?" she began.
"Listen to her Charon." The Moon Princess interrupted firmly. "You are wonderful just as you are so don't worry about what people might expect of you – just let them take you as they find you and they'll love you just as much as we do."
Charon smiled and wondered how she had ever gotten by without the friends she had now – she could never imagine ever going back to the life she had lived before she had gone to the Moon Kingdom.
~*~*~
Unbeknownst to the girls two sharp points of light glimmered from out of the shadows of the dark forest in the distance, moving so that they were always directed at the six girls – the Princesses were being watched. A soft hiss filtered from the shadows beneath the trees and a pair of eyes glinted as the creature watched and waited in the darkness – its eyes flickered with an unsettling mixture of emotions. Hunger…fear…a strange senselessness as if whatever this creature was it did not know where it was nor what it was doing here. For the present it stooped low beneath the trees at the edge of the forest and simply crouched watching the girls as they walked in the distance, waiting until the moment it felt ready…
~*~*~
Estrella was unusually quiet – her eyes were worried as she rode in Charon's arms. The kitten had a strange tingling feeling…she was sure that there were a pair of unfriendly eyes staring coldly at her but she couldn't imagine why she felt this way in these beautiful Plains so she didn't say a word.
Venus glanced over to her right and stopped so suddenly in her tracks that Jupiter almost bumped into her. "Oh my…gorgeous!" she breathed as her eyes widened.
Venus was staring at a small field of light-blue flowers which swayed gentle in the cool and gentle breeze and shimmered like a field of azure stars – it was the flower-field which Ayadi loved so dearly that she would spend hours lying in it and listening to the blossoms rustling.
"Those flowers are so wonderful." The Moon Princess remarked as they all stopped to look at the field. "What are they Charon?"
"Those flowers?" Charon exclaimed brightly, in high spirits again now that her moment of self-doubt was behind her. "Oh they're called…" she trailed off into silence as she felt that something very unusual had just happened – or rather not happened.
"Charon?" Jupiter prompted her.
"Er…Mercury?" the green-haired Princess spoke to the Mercurian as she looked over at her and then coughed meaningfully.
The Mercurian was standing a little way apart from the rest of them and her eyes were lowered as she thought – normally she would have told them the name of the flowers by now but now she hadn't even been paying attention to what her friends had been talking about.
Mercury raised her eyes slowly and met Charon's waiting gaze – she had been so lost in her own sad thoughts that she had not heard even a word that her friends had exchanged since they had set off. "Yes?" she asked quietly – her voice too quiet even for her.
"Could you tell us what these flowers are called?" Charon asked mildly despite the fact that she knew perfectly well already.
Mercury looked over indifferently at the flower-field. "Star-orchids." She replied without so much as blinking. "They aren't covered with snow just like the rest of the plain because the pollen that they give off bathes their area in a field of warmth."
The Princess's gazed at her as she lapsed into silence again – Mercury's voice had sounded so empty, it seemed as if she didn't care about anything that she saw around her. All of the other five girls knew what each other was thinking…
'We have to talk about this.'
"You know Mercury…I would like to bring some of these flowers home." Charon remarked slowly. "I think that I'll stay and pick some."
"I'll stay and help you." Venus offered as she got the idea.
The others volunteered just as enthusiastically except for Mercury who simply stood and gazed over the horizon – she'd gone back to her own thoughts which didn't include them or the Outer Moon.
"Why don't you go on ahead while we gather the flowers Mercury?" the Moon Princess suggested cheerfully. "There are more than enough of us to do it – you can walk on for a little while and we can catch up with you presently."
Mercury gazed at her – she sensed that her friends wanted her to go on without them for a reason – they were probably tired of her gloominess and wanted her to go away.
Without a word she turned and walked away from them – she felt so sick of everything all of a sudden that she did what they wanted so that she could be alone for a while and brood a little more about how bad her life had become since her best friend had walked out of it.
The Princesses watched as she faded into the distance like a grey shadow when the sun rose in morning – then as soon as she was too far away to hear them they turned to face each other with serious and meaningful looks on their faces – the matter on all their minds was a lot more important to them than gathering flowers.
Charon let Estrella down and immediately she raced off into the direction of the flower-field. There was no point in spoiling the kitten's day even if they were going to talk about something sad after all.
"She cannot go on like this." the Moon Princess declared seriously though her face was worried as she began the discussion about the blue-haired girl. "If this goes on then she might…" she trailed into silence as she did not like to go on with that thought.
"I don't see what we can do." Mar remarked softly.
"We can do what we are here for – we can take care of our friend." Venus spoke up. "But there's only so much that we can do for her until Universe…" Jupiter gave a tiny groan. "Don't say it Venus." She growled in exasperation. "Look I know that Mercury's really hung up over her but if Universe was going to come back then don't you think she would have by now? Think about it!"
Venus floundered in the face of what seemed like the harsh truth. "But Universe…" she protested.
"…isn't coming back and you know it as well as I do!" Jupiter snapped. "What Mercury should do is get over her."
"NO!" the Moon Princess cried loudly and the others looked at her in surprise. "Jupiter we don't just forget about out friends while they are gone! We have to remember Universe and have faith in her for Mercury's sake."
Jupiter was silent for a moment – the fact was that she felt a little ashamed of herself. "What if she never comes back?" she asked plainly. "What will we do for Mercury if Universe really is gone for good?"
This question the Moon Princess couldn't answer but her response said more than any resolve to Jupiter's doubts could have done. "She has to Jupiter." Her blue eyes were sincere and her voice heartfelt as she spoke quietly. "She just has to."
The group were sombrely silent for a few moments – there really was nothing else that anybody could say after that.
Meanwhile the eyes that had watched them from afar for so long no longer gleamed in the darkness of the forest – now that the pack of six had divided itself the hunter in the darkness had decided to track down the lamb that had strayed from the fold…
~*~*~
Mercury walked very far before she had to feel the tiredness in her legs no matter how little she cared about it.
With a weary and bitter sigh she stopped walking and decided that she simply couldn't be bothered to go on for another step. Oh I wonder what they're doing right now? She thought as she slowly sat down on a smooth boulder to rest from her walking – she'd walked a far way from the others. I suppose that they will be talking about me.
Mercury's eyes were distant and sorrowful as she wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them up to her chest and looked up at the sky. Once more she could see the stars. Once again she ignored them as she thought about her friend who she had not seen for so long now – she knew that the others were always there for her but she desperately wanted to look at Universe's face again.
Universe…I miss you. Oh I miss you so much. She thought as her blue eyes glistened, tears threatening to come. I wish that you could hear me say this – ever since you left I've been sure that you're in trouble and need my help. Why can't I be like you…free to fly where I wish like a bird? I know you better than anyone else…you're a part of me. Can't you see that I don't care where you came from? I just want you back!
Mercury lowered her head and closed her eyes knowing that this was no use. No matter how she felt about her Universe wasn't going to come back as if nothing had happened just because she wanted her to – she would feel this pain for days to come and it would only get worse with every day that she remembered the friend she had lost.
Tears trickled freely down her face – the truth hurt.
But the Mercurian Princess's tears were suddenly forgotten as she felt something – an unpleasant tingling running up her back.
She wasn't alone...
Instinctively she looked up, up, up until her eyes came to rest on a long branch hanging a little way above the boulder she was sitting on…the other thing that she saw caused every bone in her body to lock into place.
A pair of eyes narrowed and filled with hate locked her in their baleful stare – this was the creature that had been lurking in the forest. It had followed her here to this remote spot and now held her in its unblinking stare.
Mercury stayed sitting on the boulder as she gazed up at the beast crouching on the tree – the expression on her face was empty. Mercury was frozen like a rabbit staring at the gleaming fangs of the beast and couldn't so much as blink.
The predator was positioned in such a way that she had a perfect view of it in all of its glory – it was wolf-like in appearance and its body was covered in brown fur but the most noteworthy thing about it was that its arms and legs were like those of a human and that it clutched the branch in its front paws and balanced with the back two.
Its jaws were wide open and she could have counted the fangs one by one as it's tongue lolled in its mouth – idly Mercury noticed that its left eye was purple and the other was green. This struck a chord in her – a memory of something but she couldn't quite seem to put her finger on what it could be…
A low and surprisingly unsteady growl grated from the beast's jaws and the depth of her situation crashed down over her like a tide of ice-cold water.
Mercury leapt up from the boulder – her stomach did a cartwheel. What was she doing critically studying the beast as it watched her every slightest move, her every breath and waited for its moment to strike?
Mercury screamed in terror before she could stop herself – though if she'd had time to think about it then she'd have probably cried out anyway – and backed off, stumbling as she tried to get away. If the quick-witted Princess had stopped to think then she would have realised that she was doing the very thing that the beast had been waiting for and kept completely still and silent until somebody arrived to help her…but under the dark discoloured eyes of the predator reason seemed to fall apart and instead she panicked.
As Mercury staggered away the beast in the tree saw her moment of weakness and smelling her fear it crouched low and bounded out of the branches…however it was at this moment that Mercury had an incredible stroke of luck.
As she had backed away in blind terror the Mercurian had forgotten all about the boulder that she had been sitting on before she'd jumped to her feet – the boulder right behind her. The blue-haired Princess gasped in shock as she walked backwards into the rock and toppled over it and onto the ground behind.
As its prey fell the beast was deprived of its target and crashed onto the surface of the boulder where it slumped senselessly, shocked by the impact. The Mercurian was dazed and confused as she lay on the ground. Then remembering her danger she tried to get to her feet but the world spun sickeningly around her – all the breath had been knocked from her by the fall.
A growl filtered through the air which though cool now seemed suffocating – the beast had recovered and was already back on its paws. Mercury was stricken with terror but she couldn't move – she couldn't get away.
Suddenly all of it seemed so pointless. The Mercurian couldn't cope with the sheer intensity of what was happening to her and with one last sob of fear she fainted clean out as everything around her blurred and she knew no more.
The beast lolled its tongue as the slender girl slumped flat on the ground and lay very still…and defenceless. Dropping into a crouch it howled madly and tensed itself to pounce upon the fainted girl…
~*~*~
"Mercury?!!" Mars gasped as her face whipped around to stare into the direction that the scream had echoed from.
The Princesses all stared towards the trees from which the scream had come – their faces were covered in shock. The Moon Princess was white-faced – the cry had sounded so fearful.
"She's in trouble!" she exclaimed. "We have to go and help her!"
"Shouldn't we go and get help?" Venus asked doubtfully.
"It'll be too late by the time we've fetched anyone!" Jupiter snapped as she took off towards the trees by herself.
Charon hesitated and then she looked down at Estrella who had run back to her when Mercury's scream had filled the air for that terrible moment. "Estrella – listen to me!" she said firmly as she knelt down to look at the kitten, "Go back to the Palace and bring help! Alright?!!"
Without waiting for her to answer the green-haired Princess got back to her feet and set off after her friends who were making off in the direction that Mercury had headed into when they had last seen her.
Left all by herself Estrella stood rooted to the snowy ground in terror – she'd been shaken by the scream and now as she watched the girls heading away to danger she was filled with doubt…she didn't know what to do. For a moment the kitten turned to go back just as Charon had told her but she froze before she even took a step.
Estrella felt that she would be more needed with the Princesses…she couldn't understand why but she was sure of it and so she turned and started after them, her legs almost sinking in the snow as she ran.
~*~*~
But already the danger that Mercury had been in had come and gone.
Mercury still lay on the ground but she was totally unharmed – her hands had been crossed over her stomach and her face was calm as she lay in a swoon.
The beast that had threatened her now lay on its side dead with its neck pierced by a very long silver spear.
Rula's face was covered in shock as she knelt down by the blue-haired girl's side and gazed intently at her face. The huntress had only arrived just in time to bring the beast down before it leapt at the Princess but when she'd walked over and looked at the face of the girl she'd saved her heart had almost stopped as she had recognized her.
What are you doing here? The huntress thought with a dazed look on her face as she picked Mercury up and carried her into the middle of the clearing, away from the dead beast. Why did you come to Charon on today of all days?
One thing was for sure – she couldn't stay here now. She couldn't let Mercury see her like this.
Mercury…I don't think you can know just how much I've wanted to see you. Rula thought as she tenderly laid the blue-haired girl on the ground. It's weird…I spent every day since I left the Moon Kingdom thinking about what I'd say if I ever saw you again. But now that we meet again it doesn't matter because you won't hear me.
Every bone in her body screamed at her to get as far away from here and Mercury as she could before the girl came to and saw her but as if they were working in spite of her good sense Rula knelt and gazed at her face for a moment.
A fierce desperate longing cried out to her from the depths of her heart – it had been there inside her ever since the night she had looked at Mercury for the very first time and now it was overwhelmingly tempting.
For so long now she'd longed for this moment…to kiss Mercury. Now she could go ahead and do it and the Princess never needed to know about it. Rula's heart beat furiously as her burning longing screamed for her to work its will and for a fleeting second she almost surrendered to her desire…but she didn't.
It wasn't that she didn't want to. She did. She wanted to kiss her so much and if she did she'd be happier than she'd ever been in her life…
But it wouldn't be real. Just like the love that Tyra had stolen from Corissa with her song, kissing Mercury now would be nothing but a betrayal of her friend's trust and that was that one thing she could never bear to do.
Rula sighed and reached down to touch Mercury's cheek. This is it I guess…goodbye Mercury. I'll miss ya.
Then her fingers froze an inch or two away from Mercury's face – the hairs on the back of her neck were tingling so furiously that they were standing up on end!
Acting out of a burst of instinct the huntress dropped low and the ball of crackling lightning that had been hurtling straight at her rocketed over her head missing her by an inch.
Rula leapt to her feet as the ball hit a tree on the far side of the clearing but before she knew what was going on the stunned girl was confronted by a angry-eyed girl. "Get away from her." growled Princess Jupiter as she glowered at Rula – her green eyes smouldered as her palm crackled in preparation for another Sparkling Wide-Pressure.
The Moon Princess, Mars, Venus and Charon had hurried up and now they all stood a short way off as they watched the confrontation in astonishment.
Charon frowned as she gazed at the strange-looking girl who Jupiter was accosting – she couldn't understand it but she felt strangely towards this stranger. "Wait Jupiter!" she exclaimed as she took a step forward to intervene. "You can't just attack her!"
"Yes!" the Moon Princess agreed. "Give her the chance to have her say about what happened."
Jupiter just snorted in scorn. "Come on! I caught her kneeling over Mercury…what more proof do we need that she was going to hurt her!" she growled as her eyes narrowed.
Rula flinched as she heard the accusation in Jupiter's voice. Looking around she locked eyes with each of the Princesses as she completely ignored the dangerous thunder that growled at the tips of Jupiter's fingers.
The apprehensive looks that she saw in the eyes of her friends stung her – how could any of them think that she would hurt Mercury?
Then she realised just how she must look to them in her huntress garb and with her hair drenched in blood. As she lowered her head Rula closed her eyes sadly. It was just as she'd feared…she could never go back to them.
Without a single word to defend herself she turned to walk away and never look back – but at that moment Estrella caught up with the group.
The kitten was almost exhausted but as she looked around at the clearing and the people standing in it her eyes fell upon the huntress and she stopped panting and stared at her. For a moment Estrella stood in the snow that drenched her short legs and gazed at the fearsome looking girl – and then her eyes widened as she sensed that she knew her.
Suddenly Estrella went mad with joy as she realised who this was. "Universe!" she squealed. "Universe!"
Charon and the others looked down at her in amazement – what?!!
Without a word the kitten ran past them and caught up with Rula. "Universe…'Strella missed you!" Estrella cried as she jumped up onto the girl's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek.
Rula stopped in her tracks and looked at the kitten in wonder – Estrella knew who she was?
"Did…I just hear right?" Venus exclaimed gazing at this scene with widened eyes.
"She can't be!" Mars stuttered as she stared at Rula in disbelief. "…can she?"
Rula stood looking at Estrella, wondering what she should do and then a faint murmur reached her ears.
Mercury was coming to and as her eyes opened weakly the blue-haired girl looked up at the people who gathered around her. "What…happened?" she murmured in a small and puzzled voice.
"Mercury!" cried the Moon Princess as her eyes shone with relief. "You're alright!"
Silently Mercury pulled herself into a sitting position and thought hard as she tried to remember – and then she gazed inquisitively over to where Rula was standing.
From that very second she was seized by an unaccountable and yet undeniable feeling that she knew this girl - as the certainty took hold of her the blue-haired Princess gazed with a tiny thoughtful frown at the scantily clad stranger and then her eyes widened in sudden shock…she knew.
"Universe?" she whispered as she slowly rose to her feet hardly daring to believe that it could be true. "is it…you?"
At the sound of her cherished voice Rula turned around and looked back at her – as she gazed lovingly at Mercury the blue-haired girl was able to see her eyes and she gasped.
Mercury recognized those deeply beautiful and warm eyes… "Uniiiiiveeeersssse!" she screeched as she ran over to her friend who had been lost to her and now had come back to her. "Where have you been?!!"
Rula staggered as Mercury flung her arms around her without waiting for an answer – she nearly fell onto her back as doubt swam through her mind for one moment. But then Mercury pulled her close and that tiny whisper was silenced.
As the girls watched with open mouths Queen Serenity arrived in the clearing at that moment – by her side walked Queen Chara who wore a sly grin on her face as she led her friend over to the group.
In silence Serenity frowned and then turned her head to gaze at the reunion – when she saw Universe with Mercury in her arms she gasped with amazement but for the time being she did not say or do anything to interrupt as the two giggled and cuddled.
Eventually Rula happened to glance over her friends shoulder and spotted Serenity standing only a short distance away – she froze.
Serenity's expression was quite thoughtful as she gazed at the girl she had not seen for a long time but otherwise Rula could not tell what she might be thinking as she gazed across at her lilac eyes.
Without breathing a word Rula let go of Mercury who she stood gently to one side and walked over to the group – handing Estella to Charon as she passed the green-haired Princess - to get to the moment that she had been thinking about the day before.
As she stood awkwardly before her Serenity gazed long and thoughtfully at Rula. "You have learnt something." She eventually declared. "Since I saw you last."
"Uhhh…have I?" Rula stammered nervously.
"Yes." Serenity replied nodding firmly with that grave and searching look still on her serious and regal face. "You have learned that it is not enough to love – you must also be able to accept love from others."
Rula was almost trembling in unbearable suspense as she waited for the Queen to show her how she felt towards her after the way that she had run off – was she angry with her or what?
For an agonizing moment longer Serenity's eyes remained serious and unreadable and then an expansive smile lit her face and she spread her arms wide to embrace the girl. "You have come a long way Universe – and I welcome you back." She concluded warmly.
Rula felt weak with relief as she walked gladly forward into Serenity's welcoming arms. "You'll have me back?" she whispered as Serenity's arms wrapped tightly around her. "I mean after the way I walked out it'd serve me right if you just…"
"Don't be ridiculous." Serenity laughed softly as she pulled her so close that she could not doubt how she felt. "Anyway…I don't think that you are quite ready to be living on your own just yet Universe. You are to come back at once…alright?"
Rula slid her arms around Queen Serenity and without caring who saw her she wept out of sheer relief.
After Serenity had given her a little while to dry her eyes she took her arms back from around Rula and put her hands on her shoulders. As she moved Rula back just a step she gazed at her for a long while as if she were trying to store this picture of her the way she was now for the sake of the future…make a memory.
"Universe – come home." Serenity told the girl in a crystal clear voice.
It was neither a request nor a command but Rula thought that it was the most wonderful thing she'd ever heard. "Yes." She whispered happily.
Serenity nodded and then let go of her – as Venus and Charon walked up to Rula and hauled her over to the others she faced Chara who had been watching all the time with a smile on her face. "You knew she was here all the time!" the silver-haired Queen exclaimed in anger.
"Naturally." Chara replied as the sight of Serenity's indignant expression caused her face to split into a grin.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Serenity demanded in exasperation. "'Don't you think that it feels like the right sort of time to take a walk'? Ha!"
Chara looked at her for a moment and then shrugged. "I promised." She explained then she burst into a peal of merry laughter as Serenity just put her hand over her eyes and sighed.
Princess Charon had bided her time as she had waited for Mercury and Rula to share their special moment together – now as her Mother and the Inner Moon Princess' Mother argued and the Princesses watched, opened mouth, she walked over to Rula.
"And now we are SEVEN again." Smiled the green-haired Princess and Rula turned to face her.
The huntress grunted as Charon took her hands. "Incredible…one for every day of the week." She retorted as she squeezed Princess Charon's hands.
Glad to BE seven again, girl…
~*~*~
Some time later…
"Well…" Chara smiled as she turned to watch Rula cross the threshold of the Royal Palace of Charon. "Here you are at last!"
Rula took a careless look around and then shrugged. "Nice set of digs you got here." She evaluated the palace grounds blandly. "Beats a night in the hedge-row in any case."
The group had been to visit the Lyanore in the Plains of Ayadi where they had spent the rest of the afternoon – the Princesses of the inner galaxy had been enthralled by the proud creatures and Rula had found herself regarded with gratitude and respect by the whole tribe who had by now heard from Charrenity about the way she had fought for them.
Of course the truth had come out then and ever since Charon had done nothing but shower her with gratitude for having saved Charrenity's life and Noulo, gushing upon the one who had saved the life of her daughter Ayadi, had gone so far as to tell her that she was a heroine and deserved a medal for what she had done.
Honestly Rula had found it all incredibly embarrassing though she'd been glad to talk to Charrenity without being afraid of being found by the Royal Guards – the young Lyanore really did remind her of Vaura and though being with her stirred up all of her painful memories the huntress felt glad to still have her old friend with her through her daughter.
After the visit the group had returned to the Palace – and Rula had come with them this time. Serenity and Chara had agreed that the party from the Moon Kingdom would spend the night there and return to the Moon with the newly found Princess the next morning.
Right now Mercury was standing by Rula's side with her arm wrapped around her friend's slender waist and a smile of contentment on her face. The blue-haired Princess had been sticking as closely to Rula as she could ever since she had finally found her friend again and she didn't plan to disengage until she absolutely had to. Rula had been so content to soak in the warmth that she felt with Mercury's arm wrapped around her waist that she hadn't realised until they had been half of the way back to the Charonian Kingdom that she had forgotten to retrieve her spear – her Gafgarion still pierced the stilled heart of the Devil-Wolf.
What had startled her more however was the fact that she hadn't felt desperate to go back for her beloved spear – as she had held her friend close to her she had felt thoughts of Gafgarion drift away and realised that it didn't really matter at all. The spear was a part of the life that she had now left behind…the life of the roaming hunter. Sadly the huntress had sent out a fond farewell to Gafgarion, her spear that had saved her so many time and then without regret she had walked onward…leaving the past behind her as she walked towards her future. Anyway…she had the feeling that her spear would have understood – she'd always thought of Gafgarion as more a companion than a weapon – and that if she ever needed its help again then it would be there waiting for her hand…
Waiting for them as they arrived were King Char and Prince Char. The King of Charon greeted Serenity pleasantly and then turned his head towards the Princesses…and as soon as he glimpsed Rula his expression changed to a particularly odd look.
Just one look at the scantily clad girl whose hair was drenched many different colours gave him cause for surprise. Just as the King was about to say something on the subject of his wife's choice of guests however he noticed the way in which this girl's eyes sparkled and closed his mouth again – he realised that this was Princess Universe.
As if that made it all right!
Rula noticed that he was staring at her with that blank look on his face and grinned impudently at him. "Hey there your Majesty!" she raised her hand and waved cheerily at him. "Great weather we're having huh? It's another bitingly cold winter's day on Charon as per norm!"
Thinking hastily the King decided that whatever the reason for her attire and drastic choice in hair colouring could be they were both Universe's business. "Indeed your Highness." He replied with a charming smile and then tactfully said no more.
Char's ears pricked up at Rula's comment. "Are you cold?" he exclaimed as he headed towards her. "Do you need…?"
"Oh stop that Char." his Mother scolded with a grin on her face.
Serenity also smiled but then she gazed at the spot just below Rula's neckline and the look froze on her face. "What is that?" she demanded, her voice suddenly sharp as she frowned at the glinting collar around Rula's neck.
Without waiting for a reply she reached out and touched the collar – as her fingertips brushed lightly against the cold cruel metal the Queen breathed a single soft gasp of shock.
Serenity could feel the wickedness locked within the enchanted metal emanating from within its intricately crafted sides and she felt sickened by its utter malevolence and its very presence around the neck of somebody she cared for. "I want it removed from her." She said sharply as she turned and looked at Chara urgently. "I don't want that…that thing touching her!"
The green-haired woman nodded gravely as she read the anxiety in her friend's eyes. "Dear..." Chara's face was perfectly serious as she turned towards her husband. "We have a very serious matter to be dealt with."
The King frowned in concern as he looked into the eyes of his beloved and realised that whatever the problem was it must be extremely urgent. "What is it?" he rumbled deeply.
Chara beckoned to Rula. "Come over to us Universe."
The huntress approached her warily and placing her hand on her shoulder Chara stood her before her husband. "Here it is." she said grimly as she traced her own fingers along the metal collar locked in place around Rula's neck and shuddered in disgust – she too could feel the evil will of the metal. "This depraved thing must be removed immediately. Can we…?"
King Char's face had clouded over in concern as soon as he'd set eyes on the gleaming metal – a member of nobility could feel the insidious magicks that had been weaved into the making of the collar as soon as they set eyes on it. "Let me see." he growled deeply as he stepped closer to Rula and inspected the collar. "My…that is a nasty piece of work isn't it?"
"Yes." Serenity agreed wholeheartedly. "Is there anybody in your Kingdom who has the ability to unlock it? I will pay any…"
"Pffft! Hold still your Highness!" King Char requested and without waiting he took a firm hold of the enchanted collar in his hands and pulled both of its sides in opposite directions.
There was a metallic crunch and suddenly Rula could feel that her neck had become free at last.
Serenity, Chara and the Princesses were all opened mouth as they stared at the collar which was now in two mangled pieces in either of the King's hands. "Oh…goodness!" the Moon Princess whispered in wonder.
Rula smiled in relief as she rubbed the skin of her neck where the collar had been for the last two days. "Thanks big Char!" she said gratefully. "Could I study beneath you?"
King Char merely smiled dashingly at her as he clenched his hands and within seconds ground the evil metal into brittle dust. "Unfortunately your Highness my days are ever so slightly filled with dealing with matters of state." he replied with genuine regret. "Why don't you just go on training yourself?"
Queen Serenity just smiled and shook her head whimsically as she felt relieved.
Prince Char had been looking intently at Rula and as she caught his gaze she looked back at him in bemusement. "You know...if you don't tell me what's on your mind then you'll never get the chance to find out what I think about it." she remarked.
Char smiled in relief - something about Universe always made him feel that he could tell her anything he wanted to. "You know...there's somebody who I would like you to meet." he said shyly but without the nervousness that had once tied the end of his tongue whenever he'd tried to talk to a beautiful woman. "I have wanted this ever since the day you and I first spoke."
Rula looked at him in interest - as far as she could see everyone who both she and Char knew was already here so...
With a grin the Prince turned and called in the direction of the archway behind him. "Come and join us now - she's here to see you."
There was a moment during which nothing happened at all - then came the sound of small footsteps and a little girl who Rula's keen eyes judged to be about four years old came into sight as she walked around the corner of the archway.
Charon had guessed who the person her brother had wanted was by the sound of his voice when he had called for her and now an affectionate and knowing smile appeared on her face. Rula looked down appraisingly at the little girl as she stood in the archway, too nervous to go any further - Char went over to where she stood, tenderly took her hand and led her over to Rula who inspected her with interest.
The girl's faintly pale and delicate-looking skin together with her dark hair that gleamed like ebony told the huntress that she was a Palazean but the dress she wore had definitely been made by a Charonian. The girl was strikingly pretty as were all female Palazeans but unlike the war-like women of that world that had once been at war with Pluto and this moon her face was nervous as she stood in front of her as if she was afraid that she was going to eat her or something...
Smiling Rula bent her knees to stoop down in front of her - there was only one name that this girl could have and it came to her mouth without her even having to try to remember it. "Rika...hi." she said warmly as she automatically reached out and patted Char's adopted daughter on the cheek.
Rika's eyes which were as dark as onyx widened as the strange-looking woman touched her face but just as she was about to retreat behind her adoptive Father's back she stopped - Rula's light brown eyes were glowing as she looked at the little girl who she'd been told so much about the day after Queenship celebrations, her face intent now that she had the chance to see her for herself.
Breathing softly as she gazed up at the woman Rika opened her red-lipped mouth in surprise - those eyes reminded her of someone who'd once been nice to her but whose face and voice were now lost in the haze and whispering echoes of her young memory. All that she still remembered of that person was that she'd been beautiful and warm - just like the eyes of the woman gazing at her right now.
But she could remember nothing else - Rika was just too young to be able to remember anything about her dead mother.
"Do you know who she is Rika?" Char asked with emphasis.
"Good evening Princess Universe." Rika greeted the huntress, her light voice polite as she curtsied to her just like her Grandmother Queen Chara had been teaching her.
Rula widened her eyes and looked exactly as startled as she was - she didn't look up at Char but she didn't need to - she knew that his eyes were on her now and that they said "There...didn't I tell you?"
"What was the thing that attacked Mercury anyway?" Venus suddenly asked out loud.
Serenity looked up sharply as she heard that – evidently the girls had been talking amongst themselves on the way back to the Palace. "Attacked?" she demanded and raised her eyebrow questioningly.
"Charonian Devil-Wolf." Rula filled the Venusian in. "They live very deep in the forest and are usually peaceful, sometimes even nervous around humans. That one was crazy – you can always tell because a mad Devil-Wolf's eyes are always different colours."
"Attacked?" Serenity repeated as she raised her voice just a little.
"Come on Universe!" Charon declared as she took Rula's arm in her hand. "Let's go and find a room for you to sleep in tonight."
"Comin' Rika?" Rula asked the Palazean girl who looked startled by the invitation but as her Father gave her a little push hurried over to the group – Princess Charon laughed as she put an arm around her niece and fondly drew her close.
As Rula was led away Venus looked closely at her hair and pulled a face. "What did you use to dye your hair?" she asked and gave a theatrical shudder. "It looks awful!"
Queen Serenity stared after the departing Princesses with an almost blank look on her face. "Mercury was attacked by a Devil-Wolf?!!" she cried in shocked disbelief.
Queen Chara gently touched her shoulder and Serenity looked at her – to her surprise there was a thoughtful and slightly apprehensive look on the green-haired woman's face as she prepared to voice that thought which had been on her mind ever since she had heard that Universe had run away and the reason why.
"Serenity…why didn't you tell me that she used to be a Star Raider before?" Chara asked – the look on her face was slightly hurt.
Serenity gave her a surprised look and then her face took on a slightly defensive expression. "Why didn't you tell me that you had a daughter before the war Chara?" she demanded.
Chara blinked – she had not expected this. "Why to keep her safe of course!" she exclaimed anxious to explain the reason why she had not told her friend about Charon until the day she had needed Serenity to protect her. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you but at the time we were in danger from the Palazeans…I wanted to protect her!"
Serenity gazed at her friend with a prim smile on her face. "Exactly why I chose to keep Universe's past a secret Chara." She replied triumphantly. "I did it so that nobody would treat her differently. Oh I don't know…" she sighed and shook her head. "…perhaps I was wrong after all! Perhaps it is better this way. Now she can be herself without fear of what others might think of her."
Queen Chara thought about it for a moment and then she too sighed. "When we get inside we must drink a toast Serenity." she remarked wryly. "To a pair of very confused women."