Act I - Continued
Queen Serenity was the first to respond. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she smiled. "Wonderful. You are here, almost all the Senshi of the Outer Planets."
"Excuse us..." interrupted Empress Ten'ou, a finger stroking the Space Sword. "We have something to say." Empress Kai'ou nodded, the Deep Sea mirror glowing in her hands. Ten'ou cleared her throat, then stepped toward her changed daughter. Sailor Uranus blinked, waiting.
"We have decided not to give you these precious talismans...these treasures that have awakened the spirit of Senshi within you. They are far too dear to fight with as you begin to train. Instead, you must earn them."
"For if you recieve them now," added Kai'ou, smiling at the mystified Sailor Neptune. "...you will have so much power that you will not know how to control it. Rather it is best if you prove yourselves worthy. You will know when the time comes."
Collecting themselves, the newly found Outer Senshi bowed ceremonially. Then, in one voice, they chanted:
"Our eternal loyalty we pledge to protecting the outer Moon Kingdom! Our mission...is to help find Princess Serenity, our Guardians, and to guard our planets from outer invaders. We will not fail you. All hail Queen Serenity, ruler of the Moon Kingdom!"
Every voice in that room cried out, and all knees bent in acknowledgement.
"Huzzah! Huzzah! Long live the Eternal Empress!"
"We have a problem."
Silver tinkled against crystal as bustling cooks carried out steaming platters of food to the Inner Royals. Princess Rei looked up at Empress Suisei, who had closed her eyes to the feast in thought. Wiping her mouth daintily, she set her chopsticks beside her plate of fugu and leaned over. "We certainly do, Queen Suisei. We now know who most of the Outer Senshi are...but we have absolutely no clue of the whereabouts of their guardians, or of the Inner Scouts! We have nothing to go on, not one scrap of data that says exactly where we should look!"
Empress Kinsei picked at her bowl of hotly spiced curry, beloved of Venusians. "But Pluto also told us that you would know who the Inner Senshi are once you meet them. Don't forget, she also said the guardians would reveal themselves in due time. Just go along with the plan. Search Mercury for all possible royalty and relations that could turn out to be Sailor Mercury. Then go and do the same on the other Inner Planets. If what the Time Guardian says is right, the guardians will find you."
Queen Serenity sipped at her crystal goblet of moonfoam champagne. "I agree, sister. Just to fill you all in..." she refilled her goblet.
"Ancient lore says that when the three talismans of the Outer Senshi are brought together, the Bringer of Death will be awakened. However..."
"When Sailor Saturn, this Goddess of death, is awakened, it will be the end of all. The end of life as we know it, the utter destruction and silencing of our kingdoms. Therefore, the Outer Soldiers have been instructed never to call their powers to conjoin. For only in the gravest of circumstances will we destroy worlds to obliterate evil. Sailor Saturn has but one purpose: destruction. They must never summon her...unless there are no other options."
Serenity smiled at their paling faces. " On a lighter note, do not fret about your mission, Rei and Ami, or about the Guardians...or even the Senshi of Silence. Take heart in the fact that you need not find the guardians of Pluto or Saturn."
Ami lifted an eyebrow. "I thought every planet had a guardian."
Empress Selene laughed warmly. "Yes...but there are three planets that have and need no guardians. I'll tell you about them later, perhaps. Now don't worry...you will have the fastest transport currency can buy, as well as royal protection, and a bit of moon magic. I've even found a very efficient medical doctor to attend to you just in case of an emergency. What could possibly go wrong?"
Empress Mokusei arched an eyebrow at her Queen, her knife slicing a warm pastry filled with glazed cherries. "Plenty!"
Night fell upon Earth, cloaking it in nocturnal shadow. Rustling and clicking filled the air as small creatures prowled their world, time to hunt at last. The clear stream cast watery ripples upon nearby rocks, lit by luminescent beams from the full moon above. Trees sighed in the wind, the leaves of nearby bushes swishing.
Parting the tresses of a weeping willow, a girl slowly crawled out. Her kirtle had once been creamy white, but was now torn and stained with mud. Impossibly long hair streamed behind her, pooling about the girls' knees in a lake of pale golden silk. She groaned in pain, attempted to stand, and fell to the ground clumsily. Whoever she was, it was clear she wouldn't be walking for some time. Panting, she untangled her long hair from a bramble thicket, wincing as strands were torn from her scalp by the thorns.
A trickling of liquid reached her ears. Water. The girl was thirsty. More than thirsty, her dry throat was parched and leathery. "Water," she croaked, painfully scrambling on her knees toward the sound of the stream. Mud squelched between her toes, deliciously cool. Lowering her head to the surface, she lapped at the life giving liquid like a dog. Gurgling in contentment, a face caught her eye, suspended in the still pooling water.
A reflection stared back at her, small and frightened. A round glowing moon, for all the world like a pure white pearl dropped into the night black stream, illuminating her features. She leaned closer. Who was the owner of these small parted lips? Were the terrified blue eyes really hers? Thick lustrous hair, fringing into feathery bangs, framed the pointed pale face. She touched her hair, the figure in the water touched hers.
Is this me?
Drawing herself up to stand, she stretched, gently probing the throbbing mass of pain on her forehead. Dipping her hands in the cold streamwater, she bathed her injury, picking away crusted blood. Hauling her weary body upright, the girl looked around. Far as the eye could see lay stretches of wild forest, thick with trees. A grim look passed across her features. She would get nowhere by walking blindly around the woods, with injuries to boot. Crawling back into the protection of the weeping willow, she bundled her hair out of the way and laid herself down. Thoughts crossed her mind as exhaustion took over. Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my name? And why am I here?!?
The slip of a girl fell asleep to these vital questions, the moon's white radiance bathing her with greenish light filtered through the willow's leaves; standing sentinel over Earth.
Sailor Uranus piloted the small space ship Zephyr 1000, skimming expertly through asteroid fields as she approached light speed. The elite soldiers of Ocean and Time sat behind her, looking out through thick duraplasteel windows. Sailor Pluto watched impassively as stars rushed past them in hyperspace. Her dark eyes studied the approaching planet. Earth. A bluish green pearl, covered with scudding clouds, a gem floating in empty, endless space. Her garnet eyes narrowed.
Appearances are decieving. Yes, it was a beautiful planet, populated with a strange race of humans. A strange race indeed that killed their own kind for seeming pleasure, ruining their planet with the smoking fires of war, refusing to use magic of any kind...except for evil.
"Why do you think the Earthians fight so much?" mused Pluto aloud.
The Sky Senshi sniffed. "Raging hormones."
"Har har, Uranus."
"I think," pondered Neptune, finger poised under chin in a characteristic pose. "I think they are confused about their place in our universe. Naturally they must be baffled as to why they are not welcomed into the Planetary Alliance."
"For shame, Neptune! Everyone knows why they cannot be allowed to join us." The Senshi of Time chided, idly twirling her Orb. "Have you never heard the Prophecy? The royalty of Mars have always carried visions of destruction if Earth and Moon ever aligned in any way. They say disaster will strike if the two cultures are joined. Even love between the two worlds is supposedly doomed to fail. So many evil beings lay sealed forever within Earthian rock...and that is why Earth sends only ambassadors, and leaves only footprints on our terrain."
Sailor Neptune looked out to Earth, sadness filling her dark blue eyes. "I can only hope that this prophecy will not plunge us into unwanted battle. There has been peace for centuries. I would give anything to prevent another Great War."
Sailor Uranus increased pressure on the acceleration generator. "Well, no matter what Earth can do to our kingdom, we're going. We have a mission, remember? The Moon Empress is counting on us to find and return her daughter safely home. After that, remember what she spoke of that holds so much sway in this search for Senshi." The soldier of flight flicked on a switch.
"Above all, we must never bring our talismans out together. I don't know about you two, but I'm not ready to die yet by the scythe of the goddess of death. I want a full, rich life...and if it means spending most of my years fighting evil, then so be it. We cannot let the White One, Princess Usagi, fall further into malicious hands. Understood?"
They nodded softly. "Hai."
Invigorated by her night's sleep, the young woman with no name stretched her sore limbs. Picking as many pine needles and twigs from her hair as she could, the maid pulled back the bothersome appendage with a ripped length of cloth. Hiking up her skirt, she took one last drink from the stream and began her journey, belly rumbling with hunger.
How long she walked, she did not know. The brightly burning sun overhead barely pierced the thick canopy of this forsaken endless forest. Taking a brief rest in the shade of an oak, the girl idly picked up oblong nuts, cracking the shells and sucking the nutmeat from them. Acorns, her mind supplied the name. They were good, settling easily on her shrunken stomach. A ripple caught the corner of the maid's eye. Standing up, she brushed shells and leaves from her dirty kirtle, grimacing as her forehead throbbed remorselessly.
Walking in the direction of the ripple, the woods gave way to sparse trees and bushes. Patches of wild violets grew along the base of trees, their splash of vivid color bright against the dimmed green woods. The young woman suddenly stopped in her tracks, her breath taken away.
Grain. Windblown, rippling in every direction, far as the eye could see were fields of grain. Wheat, husked barley, maize, oats, all different shades of temptingly breadlike golden brown. And beyond the fields loomed a forbiddingly tall manor built of black sheened stone.
Breaking into a run, the girl's breath caught in her throat. People would be there, food as well, real food. Her stomach grumbled, telling her that a handful of acorns was not enough. She could almost taste the steaming loaves of freshly baked wheat bread, drink the foamy cider, hear children's laughter. Her pace quickened.
"Hello?" she called, deep blue eyes scanning the area. "Anyone here? Hello?"
"Ya don't need ta shout, ahm right heah!"
A sturdy young maid stood up, a bundle of wheat sheaves under her arm. Her rippling coppery hair was tied back with a blue kerchief. She wore a russet brown working kirtle, with a stained hemp apron. Wid eeyes, paler than the cloudless blue summer sky, took in the girl's appearance.
"Ya look like ye been in a seven year famine. And tha' beastly lump on yore 'ead...poor thang." Not unkindly, she took the bewildered maiden's hand in hers. "Come on, I'll feed ya and find some work for ye t'do. We get refugees and orphans here all the time, I was n' orphan! Hurry up, ah don't bite! Me name's Molhymnia Osaka, Molly or Molls t'you."
Alternately chattering in her strange dialect to the girl and pulling her up the path, Molly explained to her where they were.
"Yore on th' property o' Lady Beryl; an acclaimed beauty, courtesan, and a witch...but don't tell any'un I said the third! She'd beat me fo' sure, or worse! Lady Beryl likes cats, has about fifteen felines wandering around th' manor. I'll put ye to work feedin' and cleanin' the poor kitties; you'll get a job, a few pennies, and some grub to put roses in those skinny cheeks o'yores."
The blonde maiden was immensely relieved when Molly released her strong grip on her arm. She looked around. The lady's manor was a spacious, elegant abode. Peasants were hard at work scrubbing the stones with sand and lime, a few others washing garments in a bubbling fountain. "Tell me, Molly," wondered the girl aloud as she was shown the manor. She knew it would sound silly, but she was highly curious as to where exactly she was. "Which planet is this? I'm not sure..."
"Hahah hah! Where are we...hee hah hah!" Five minutes later the red headed peasant girl was still giggling helplessly. Her dirty companion sighed in impatience. "Come on, Molly. Just tell me for crying out loud. Where am I, and who rules this planet?"
"Ah...ahah..." Wiping tears of mirth from her eyes, Molly quieted. "Y'great silly lump, don't ye know? Yore on the planet Earth, ruled by Queen Delemnia Gaia and her son Prince Endymion, otherwise known as Lord Darien. Ah still can't believe ye didn't know!"
Darien..."That's funny. I feel as if I know this Darien. But honestly, Molly, and please don't tell anyone else this..." She was silent, searching for the words to explain how confused she was. Molly nodded. "Tho' yore a strange un' t' be wandering 'round here, I give ye my word. So out with it! Where are you from? What is yore name? I been a wonderin' ever since ah found ye."
She shrugged. "I have no name. No name, no memories, and no home. I woke up yesterday evening all alone in the middle of the forest. I walked for hours, till my legs ached and I thought I couldn't go on for the hunger and thirst. Then I saw the fields of grain through a clearing; I ran. And I met you. "Her cold pale hands, strangely soft, reached for Molly's ruddy ones. "Thank you, Molly. I owe my life to you."
Molly shuffled awkwardly. "Aw, quite it, ah'm blushin'. By the way, since ye seem t'have no name, d'ye mind if I suggest one f'you?" her eyes were dark and serious.
"Please do. I'd feel better if I had one." The girl said bluntly.
Here Molly cocked her head, studying the ragged young girl.
"...Serena. Someday, I'll tell ye why I chose this particulah name. Now we'd better get a move on, or you won't have time to clean up!"
Queen Serenity was the first to respond. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she smiled. "Wonderful. You are here, almost all the Senshi of the Outer Planets."
"Excuse us..." interrupted Empress Ten'ou, a finger stroking the Space Sword. "We have something to say." Empress Kai'ou nodded, the Deep Sea mirror glowing in her hands. Ten'ou cleared her throat, then stepped toward her changed daughter. Sailor Uranus blinked, waiting.
"We have decided not to give you these precious talismans...these treasures that have awakened the spirit of Senshi within you. They are far too dear to fight with as you begin to train. Instead, you must earn them."
"For if you recieve them now," added Kai'ou, smiling at the mystified Sailor Neptune. "...you will have so much power that you will not know how to control it. Rather it is best if you prove yourselves worthy. You will know when the time comes."
Collecting themselves, the newly found Outer Senshi bowed ceremonially. Then, in one voice, they chanted:
"Our eternal loyalty we pledge to protecting the outer Moon Kingdom! Our mission...is to help find Princess Serenity, our Guardians, and to guard our planets from outer invaders. We will not fail you. All hail Queen Serenity, ruler of the Moon Kingdom!"
Every voice in that room cried out, and all knees bent in acknowledgement.
"Huzzah! Huzzah! Long live the Eternal Empress!"
"We have a problem."
Silver tinkled against crystal as bustling cooks carried out steaming platters of food to the Inner Royals. Princess Rei looked up at Empress Suisei, who had closed her eyes to the feast in thought. Wiping her mouth daintily, she set her chopsticks beside her plate of fugu and leaned over. "We certainly do, Queen Suisei. We now know who most of the Outer Senshi are...but we have absolutely no clue of the whereabouts of their guardians, or of the Inner Scouts! We have nothing to go on, not one scrap of data that says exactly where we should look!"
Empress Kinsei picked at her bowl of hotly spiced curry, beloved of Venusians. "But Pluto also told us that you would know who the Inner Senshi are once you meet them. Don't forget, she also said the guardians would reveal themselves in due time. Just go along with the plan. Search Mercury for all possible royalty and relations that could turn out to be Sailor Mercury. Then go and do the same on the other Inner Planets. If what the Time Guardian says is right, the guardians will find you."
Queen Serenity sipped at her crystal goblet of moonfoam champagne. "I agree, sister. Just to fill you all in..." she refilled her goblet.
"Ancient lore says that when the three talismans of the Outer Senshi are brought together, the Bringer of Death will be awakened. However..."
"When Sailor Saturn, this Goddess of death, is awakened, it will be the end of all. The end of life as we know it, the utter destruction and silencing of our kingdoms. Therefore, the Outer Soldiers have been instructed never to call their powers to conjoin. For only in the gravest of circumstances will we destroy worlds to obliterate evil. Sailor Saturn has but one purpose: destruction. They must never summon her...unless there are no other options."
Serenity smiled at their paling faces. " On a lighter note, do not fret about your mission, Rei and Ami, or about the Guardians...or even the Senshi of Silence. Take heart in the fact that you need not find the guardians of Pluto or Saturn."
Ami lifted an eyebrow. "I thought every planet had a guardian."
Empress Selene laughed warmly. "Yes...but there are three planets that have and need no guardians. I'll tell you about them later, perhaps. Now don't worry...you will have the fastest transport currency can buy, as well as royal protection, and a bit of moon magic. I've even found a very efficient medical doctor to attend to you just in case of an emergency. What could possibly go wrong?"
Empress Mokusei arched an eyebrow at her Queen, her knife slicing a warm pastry filled with glazed cherries. "Plenty!"
Night fell upon Earth, cloaking it in nocturnal shadow. Rustling and clicking filled the air as small creatures prowled their world, time to hunt at last. The clear stream cast watery ripples upon nearby rocks, lit by luminescent beams from the full moon above. Trees sighed in the wind, the leaves of nearby bushes swishing.
Parting the tresses of a weeping willow, a girl slowly crawled out. Her kirtle had once been creamy white, but was now torn and stained with mud. Impossibly long hair streamed behind her, pooling about the girls' knees in a lake of pale golden silk. She groaned in pain, attempted to stand, and fell to the ground clumsily. Whoever she was, it was clear she wouldn't be walking for some time. Panting, she untangled her long hair from a bramble thicket, wincing as strands were torn from her scalp by the thorns.
A trickling of liquid reached her ears. Water. The girl was thirsty. More than thirsty, her dry throat was parched and leathery. "Water," she croaked, painfully scrambling on her knees toward the sound of the stream. Mud squelched between her toes, deliciously cool. Lowering her head to the surface, she lapped at the life giving liquid like a dog. Gurgling in contentment, a face caught her eye, suspended in the still pooling water.
A reflection stared back at her, small and frightened. A round glowing moon, for all the world like a pure white pearl dropped into the night black stream, illuminating her features. She leaned closer. Who was the owner of these small parted lips? Were the terrified blue eyes really hers? Thick lustrous hair, fringing into feathery bangs, framed the pointed pale face. She touched her hair, the figure in the water touched hers.
Is this me?
Drawing herself up to stand, she stretched, gently probing the throbbing mass of pain on her forehead. Dipping her hands in the cold streamwater, she bathed her injury, picking away crusted blood. Hauling her weary body upright, the girl looked around. Far as the eye could see lay stretches of wild forest, thick with trees. A grim look passed across her features. She would get nowhere by walking blindly around the woods, with injuries to boot. Crawling back into the protection of the weeping willow, she bundled her hair out of the way and laid herself down. Thoughts crossed her mind as exhaustion took over. Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my name? And why am I here?!?
The slip of a girl fell asleep to these vital questions, the moon's white radiance bathing her with greenish light filtered through the willow's leaves; standing sentinel over Earth.
Sailor Uranus piloted the small space ship Zephyr 1000, skimming expertly through asteroid fields as she approached light speed. The elite soldiers of Ocean and Time sat behind her, looking out through thick duraplasteel windows. Sailor Pluto watched impassively as stars rushed past them in hyperspace. Her dark eyes studied the approaching planet. Earth. A bluish green pearl, covered with scudding clouds, a gem floating in empty, endless space. Her garnet eyes narrowed.
Appearances are decieving. Yes, it was a beautiful planet, populated with a strange race of humans. A strange race indeed that killed their own kind for seeming pleasure, ruining their planet with the smoking fires of war, refusing to use magic of any kind...except for evil.
"Why do you think the Earthians fight so much?" mused Pluto aloud.
The Sky Senshi sniffed. "Raging hormones."
"Har har, Uranus."
"I think," pondered Neptune, finger poised under chin in a characteristic pose. "I think they are confused about their place in our universe. Naturally they must be baffled as to why they are not welcomed into the Planetary Alliance."
"For shame, Neptune! Everyone knows why they cannot be allowed to join us." The Senshi of Time chided, idly twirling her Orb. "Have you never heard the Prophecy? The royalty of Mars have always carried visions of destruction if Earth and Moon ever aligned in any way. They say disaster will strike if the two cultures are joined. Even love between the two worlds is supposedly doomed to fail. So many evil beings lay sealed forever within Earthian rock...and that is why Earth sends only ambassadors, and leaves only footprints on our terrain."
Sailor Neptune looked out to Earth, sadness filling her dark blue eyes. "I can only hope that this prophecy will not plunge us into unwanted battle. There has been peace for centuries. I would give anything to prevent another Great War."
Sailor Uranus increased pressure on the acceleration generator. "Well, no matter what Earth can do to our kingdom, we're going. We have a mission, remember? The Moon Empress is counting on us to find and return her daughter safely home. After that, remember what she spoke of that holds so much sway in this search for Senshi." The soldier of flight flicked on a switch.
"Above all, we must never bring our talismans out together. I don't know about you two, but I'm not ready to die yet by the scythe of the goddess of death. I want a full, rich life...and if it means spending most of my years fighting evil, then so be it. We cannot let the White One, Princess Usagi, fall further into malicious hands. Understood?"
They nodded softly. "Hai."
Invigorated by her night's sleep, the young woman with no name stretched her sore limbs. Picking as many pine needles and twigs from her hair as she could, the maid pulled back the bothersome appendage with a ripped length of cloth. Hiking up her skirt, she took one last drink from the stream and began her journey, belly rumbling with hunger.
How long she walked, she did not know. The brightly burning sun overhead barely pierced the thick canopy of this forsaken endless forest. Taking a brief rest in the shade of an oak, the girl idly picked up oblong nuts, cracking the shells and sucking the nutmeat from them. Acorns, her mind supplied the name. They were good, settling easily on her shrunken stomach. A ripple caught the corner of the maid's eye. Standing up, she brushed shells and leaves from her dirty kirtle, grimacing as her forehead throbbed remorselessly.
Walking in the direction of the ripple, the woods gave way to sparse trees and bushes. Patches of wild violets grew along the base of trees, their splash of vivid color bright against the dimmed green woods. The young woman suddenly stopped in her tracks, her breath taken away.
Grain. Windblown, rippling in every direction, far as the eye could see were fields of grain. Wheat, husked barley, maize, oats, all different shades of temptingly breadlike golden brown. And beyond the fields loomed a forbiddingly tall manor built of black sheened stone.
Breaking into a run, the girl's breath caught in her throat. People would be there, food as well, real food. Her stomach grumbled, telling her that a handful of acorns was not enough. She could almost taste the steaming loaves of freshly baked wheat bread, drink the foamy cider, hear children's laughter. Her pace quickened.
"Hello?" she called, deep blue eyes scanning the area. "Anyone here? Hello?"
"Ya don't need ta shout, ahm right heah!"
A sturdy young maid stood up, a bundle of wheat sheaves under her arm. Her rippling coppery hair was tied back with a blue kerchief. She wore a russet brown working kirtle, with a stained hemp apron. Wid eeyes, paler than the cloudless blue summer sky, took in the girl's appearance.
"Ya look like ye been in a seven year famine. And tha' beastly lump on yore 'ead...poor thang." Not unkindly, she took the bewildered maiden's hand in hers. "Come on, I'll feed ya and find some work for ye t'do. We get refugees and orphans here all the time, I was n' orphan! Hurry up, ah don't bite! Me name's Molhymnia Osaka, Molly or Molls t'you."
Alternately chattering in her strange dialect to the girl and pulling her up the path, Molly explained to her where they were.
"Yore on th' property o' Lady Beryl; an acclaimed beauty, courtesan, and a witch...but don't tell any'un I said the third! She'd beat me fo' sure, or worse! Lady Beryl likes cats, has about fifteen felines wandering around th' manor. I'll put ye to work feedin' and cleanin' the poor kitties; you'll get a job, a few pennies, and some grub to put roses in those skinny cheeks o'yores."
The blonde maiden was immensely relieved when Molly released her strong grip on her arm. She looked around. The lady's manor was a spacious, elegant abode. Peasants were hard at work scrubbing the stones with sand and lime, a few others washing garments in a bubbling fountain. "Tell me, Molly," wondered the girl aloud as she was shown the manor. She knew it would sound silly, but she was highly curious as to where exactly she was. "Which planet is this? I'm not sure..."
"Hahah hah! Where are we...hee hah hah!" Five minutes later the red headed peasant girl was still giggling helplessly. Her dirty companion sighed in impatience. "Come on, Molly. Just tell me for crying out loud. Where am I, and who rules this planet?"
"Ah...ahah..." Wiping tears of mirth from her eyes, Molly quieted. "Y'great silly lump, don't ye know? Yore on the planet Earth, ruled by Queen Delemnia Gaia and her son Prince Endymion, otherwise known as Lord Darien. Ah still can't believe ye didn't know!"
Darien..."That's funny. I feel as if I know this Darien. But honestly, Molly, and please don't tell anyone else this..." She was silent, searching for the words to explain how confused she was. Molly nodded. "Tho' yore a strange un' t' be wandering 'round here, I give ye my word. So out with it! Where are you from? What is yore name? I been a wonderin' ever since ah found ye."
She shrugged. "I have no name. No name, no memories, and no home. I woke up yesterday evening all alone in the middle of the forest. I walked for hours, till my legs ached and I thought I couldn't go on for the hunger and thirst. Then I saw the fields of grain through a clearing; I ran. And I met you. "Her cold pale hands, strangely soft, reached for Molly's ruddy ones. "Thank you, Molly. I owe my life to you."
Molly shuffled awkwardly. "Aw, quite it, ah'm blushin'. By the way, since ye seem t'have no name, d'ye mind if I suggest one f'you?" her eyes were dark and serious.
"Please do. I'd feel better if I had one." The girl said bluntly.
Here Molly cocked her head, studying the ragged young girl.
"...Serena. Someday, I'll tell ye why I chose this particulah name. Now we'd better get a move on, or you won't have time to clean up!"
