Act II- Hypothermia
"Mercury...ten minutes enclosing. Please prepare for shuttle landing."
Ami and Rei packed their luggage and stowed it away in capsule cases, handing them to uniformed guards. The Martian princess looked around, observing the unique planet. Mercury was a world of crystalline pure rivers, brooks, and streams. Giant icebergs floated in the vast lakes that covered much of the planet, cool mist hiding other floes in its depths. The floating city of Mariner Palace was situated atop Lake Lucsira; a veritable metropolis of activity. Cerulean haired people bustled in the streets and markets, divers and fishermen calling to one another on the lake docks. Mercury was famed for its incredible academies and contributions to math and the sciences. Its students were the best in the Moon Kingdom; rivaled only by Neptune. And of all these students their Princess Mizuno Ami was the scholastic valedictorian...surpassing all.
She sighed happily. Home. She drank in the clear, cool air, tinged with the mist she had missed so much on the Moon. Rei shivered slightly, putting on a magically heating cloak.
"You seem to be shivering, Rei. Is the temperature change a tad too drastic for you?" Ami pointed out with a teasing smile. The Martian's breath was like smoke in the pale mists.
"However did you guess. I give you full marks as a genius."
Their path cleared by royal guards, the two princesses were ushered to Mariner Palace. Completely sculpted of ice, frozen into convoluted structures with ancient spells, Rei gaped as the subzero floor slightly melted under her high heels. Alternately shivering and complaining, the fire princess blew gentle flame on her hands to warm them. "Does it get any warmer in here?"
"No. Mariner Palace is make of ice, silly. Of course it stays cold." Ami seemed even happier now that she was back in her freezing home. Throwing off her cooling icecap blue cloak, she strode confidently ahead, clad only in a dark blue kirtle. Rei grumbled incoherently, stomping behind Ami as they reached her room and began to unpack. Nervously sitting down on the slippery bed, Rei shivered convulsively. "This is so strange. You'd think the planet closest to the sun would be warmest!"
Soft footsteps tapped behind Rei, scaring her out of her wits. "Actually, the core of this planet is four billion three hundred and eighty degrees below zero. The entire planet system is formed of carbonic dry ice mixed with hydrogen molecules. Enough ice melts each year to form new lakes, and when the lakes become deep enough, they freeze. Quite a good arrangement, I think."
Ami ran past Rei and gave Queen Suisei a hug. "Mother, I've missed you." The tall Mercurian smiled warmly, her twisted midnight blue braid coiled around her head. "And I you, Amiko. If you're going where I think you're going, the room code is 9268. Don't slip on your way down."
"Now where are we going?" asked Rei for the hundredth time an hour later, chilled to the bone. They had passed so many twisting corridors that even her highly developed sense of direction had been thrown off. Ami sighed. "For the last time, we are visiting the royal records keeper. If anyone knows the royalty and their history of magical bloodlines, I'll bet it will be Umino Melvin."
-Ten Minutes Later-
A squeaky, almost falsetto voice cracked with glee. "Of course I can help you, princess!"
Rei wondered if this really was the person that all their hopes rested upon. He was short and stubby, with dark spiky brown hair and olive skin. His eyes were concealed behind enormous round glasses, with strange swirls gleaming on their lenses. Melvin looks like he doesn't get out much. Smiling brightly, he skipped out of his quarters. "Keep up, my Majesties! It will get cooler as we go deeper into the bowels of the palace!"
"Great..." groaned Rei, who promptly lost her balance and fell with a smack on her face. Ami giggled and helped her up. "Come on, Rei. I believe he's taking us to the Vaults."
"Oh goody."
Rei had to admit, she was actually impressed. After sliding down countless steep icy (what else) inclines and losing their way in the cellars, Melvin finally stopped in front of a large steel door. "All my records and files of Mercurian Royal Geneology are in this room," he had stated, pushing his glasses up his nose. She and Ami had found themselves in a large dark room covered from wall to wall with computers. More technology and software than Ami had ever seen in her life...which was quite amazing. She admired the neatness and organization, testing a laptop for dust.
"What an incredible place, Melvin."
"It certainly is. Every person of the Ice Folk who has lived and died on Mercury is in here. Ami, you, your parents, and all your ancestors are written into these files. Now we just have to look for a royal with abnormally high elemental powers of ice and water!"
Logging on, he sat at a computer, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Immediately a screen flickered on, filled with running mathematical symbols, numbers, and letters. "My code," he explained to a puzzled Rei. Ami was nodding her head, she at least understood some of the calculations. Of course, trigonometry and calculus help. A database appeared, with a search box.
"Now to enter the stats." His fingers were a blur, typing quicker than their eyes could keep up. "Ahah! I found it!" crowed Melvin. "Just a few more seconds, and you'll find some likely people who could be Mercury...the message is almost completely loaded."
Rei and Ami leaned over his shoulders, intent upon the screen.
...beep...beep...beeeeep...
Night fell upon the Selene Aurora Palace, bathing it in a pale bluish glow. Queen Serenity sat upon her tall bed, silently combing her ivory hair. She resembled an ancient wise unicorn, giving off an aura of ethereal peace and tranquility. Looking out of her window at the bright blue orb below, swathed in mist from the Mare Nubium, Sea of Clouds, her mind turned back to a conversation held earlier that day...
"Why were the Outer Senshi found so easily?"
Empress Kasei of Mars looked up, mildly surprised. "Why does it matter, Milady? Surely now that they are found it is of no consequence." Serenity walked softly towards the Fire Queen. "I just wanted to know...how come they recieved their powers so easily? Sailor Pluto told me a small portion of their mission, which I predict is highly different from the Inners' purpose. How did their mothers know that it was they who were the chosen ones? Does it mean that our daughters could be Sailor Senshi...simply because they are royalty?"
Kasei chuckled, her blood red gown trailing rubescent silk behind her. "Oh, Serenity...have you forgotten the legends and prophecies of old? Were you asleep through all your mystic lore and literature classes? Mayhap you and your daughter are not too distantly related after all..."
"I must have forgotten...either that or not interpreted the visions correctly." mused the Moon Empress. "Please, my royal advisor and Seer. Tell me the prophecy that pertains to the Sailor Senshi...the one given by your great grandmother Ferahdrea. Perhaps it will answer a few questions."
Kasei bowed her raven head. "As you wish, splendor..."
Legends say that in the dawning of time and creation, there were nine planets formed in a small spiral galaxy. Each planet had the protection and patronage of a single element...
Mercury, planet of ice lakes
Mars, planet of celestial fire
Venus, planet of loving beauty
Jupiter, planet of earth lightning
Saturn, planet of deathly silence
Uranus, planet of clear sky
Neptune, planet of gentle ocean
Pluto, planet of the fleeting moment
There was one more planet, an incredibly different world known to its inhabitants as Earth. Earth, the jewel among all planets; she had all the elements wrapped into one single world. Power, more power than any other planet could ever dream of was within this blue planet. But for one. Unlike her neighbors, Earth had only one single moon, a gleaming pearl of pure white light...known simply as the Moon. While Earth became the planet of hope and possibilities, the Moon was the world of Infinite compassion. It was no wonder that Earth and its Moon became leaders of all the other planets. And the small spiral system was happy, for a time.
Perhaps it was the incredibly dark powers bestowed upon Earth that stained her spirit. Millennia after the dawn of time, there came a black goddess. Born from the molten depths of the sun, she, like so many other evil beings, cast her eyes upon Earth and found it delightsome.
"The...the legend isn't really clear after this, splendor. Many ancient scrolls and parchments have been destroyed, so that we've had to piece the rest out."
"You are fine, my friend. Continue."
Ages passed, fading into history. But something will happen that was not supposed to, something that will change the course of time , good or evil, forever. Something not even the evil ones who lurk Earth and space could have surmised. The strangest connection between Moon and Earth happened. Soullight turning to the black of death. For this strange union, I foretell doom for all if Earth and Moon ever again align. Evil will destroy all, world by world...
Three stars will shine over the three planets of sky, ocean, and time, then merge into one scythe of death, the Destroyer herself. That is when life and time itself shall shatter into obliteration...able to be stopped by nothing.
Salvation is a single tear held in the hands of the one who rules life and holds the delicate scale of justice. Ancient warriors and guardians of the planets must give their life force to protect She who Rules Life, and to fulfil the mission of She who Holds Death. That will be done, or all must perish.
"And thus, Serenity, your questions are answered. The Outer Senshi are the ones who guard us from outer invaders. They work alone, yet at times they may band together to fight more efficiently. Light refracts from their three talismans as you saw earlier today...the light in the prophecy."
"Leading to the scythe of the goddess of death."
"Sailor Saturn."
"It is starting to make sense...so this evil is happening because one of Earth and one of the Moon have 'aligned'? This joining is causing all the death and turmoil in our planets?"
Kasei chuckled. "You could say that...
" I wouldn't worry about the Inner Senshi or even the Guardians too much, Serenity. Things will turn out all right in due time. Just have patience."
The Moon Empress laid down her comb, her mother of pearl eyes straying to an ornately fashioned star locket. It hung from a delicate golden chain around the memorograph of her late husband. Selene stood up and lifted the antique bauble from its place, fingering the slender hands that moved in accordance to the moon's tides. Stretching out a hand, she lightly tapped the blank memorograph and whispered a Lunarian chant. Now connected to her past thoughts and memories, the frame revealed a smiling, handsome Earthian with kind soft blue eyes. "Seamus..." He is gone, she furiously reminded herself. Dead and gone for many centuries of her long, long lifetime, killed in the Great War. In her many years she had never been able to forget him, the sound of his laughter, the taste of his kisses, the warmth of his arms.
Selene slowly walked back to her canopy bed. Pulling up the white silken sheets, she opened the locket. An eerie, yet hauntingly beautiful strain of melody caressed her mind, wrapping her in its embrace as it had so many times before. In the dark, no one saw tears roll down her pale cheeks as she cried silently in the night, the star locket pressed against her chest.
"Mercury...ten minutes enclosing. Please prepare for shuttle landing."
Ami and Rei packed their luggage and stowed it away in capsule cases, handing them to uniformed guards. The Martian princess looked around, observing the unique planet. Mercury was a world of crystalline pure rivers, brooks, and streams. Giant icebergs floated in the vast lakes that covered much of the planet, cool mist hiding other floes in its depths. The floating city of Mariner Palace was situated atop Lake Lucsira; a veritable metropolis of activity. Cerulean haired people bustled in the streets and markets, divers and fishermen calling to one another on the lake docks. Mercury was famed for its incredible academies and contributions to math and the sciences. Its students were the best in the Moon Kingdom; rivaled only by Neptune. And of all these students their Princess Mizuno Ami was the scholastic valedictorian...surpassing all.
She sighed happily. Home. She drank in the clear, cool air, tinged with the mist she had missed so much on the Moon. Rei shivered slightly, putting on a magically heating cloak.
"You seem to be shivering, Rei. Is the temperature change a tad too drastic for you?" Ami pointed out with a teasing smile. The Martian's breath was like smoke in the pale mists.
"However did you guess. I give you full marks as a genius."
Their path cleared by royal guards, the two princesses were ushered to Mariner Palace. Completely sculpted of ice, frozen into convoluted structures with ancient spells, Rei gaped as the subzero floor slightly melted under her high heels. Alternately shivering and complaining, the fire princess blew gentle flame on her hands to warm them. "Does it get any warmer in here?"
"No. Mariner Palace is make of ice, silly. Of course it stays cold." Ami seemed even happier now that she was back in her freezing home. Throwing off her cooling icecap blue cloak, she strode confidently ahead, clad only in a dark blue kirtle. Rei grumbled incoherently, stomping behind Ami as they reached her room and began to unpack. Nervously sitting down on the slippery bed, Rei shivered convulsively. "This is so strange. You'd think the planet closest to the sun would be warmest!"
Soft footsteps tapped behind Rei, scaring her out of her wits. "Actually, the core of this planet is four billion three hundred and eighty degrees below zero. The entire planet system is formed of carbonic dry ice mixed with hydrogen molecules. Enough ice melts each year to form new lakes, and when the lakes become deep enough, they freeze. Quite a good arrangement, I think."
Ami ran past Rei and gave Queen Suisei a hug. "Mother, I've missed you." The tall Mercurian smiled warmly, her twisted midnight blue braid coiled around her head. "And I you, Amiko. If you're going where I think you're going, the room code is 9268. Don't slip on your way down."
"Now where are we going?" asked Rei for the hundredth time an hour later, chilled to the bone. They had passed so many twisting corridors that even her highly developed sense of direction had been thrown off. Ami sighed. "For the last time, we are visiting the royal records keeper. If anyone knows the royalty and their history of magical bloodlines, I'll bet it will be Umino Melvin."
-Ten Minutes Later-
A squeaky, almost falsetto voice cracked with glee. "Of course I can help you, princess!"
Rei wondered if this really was the person that all their hopes rested upon. He was short and stubby, with dark spiky brown hair and olive skin. His eyes were concealed behind enormous round glasses, with strange swirls gleaming on their lenses. Melvin looks like he doesn't get out much. Smiling brightly, he skipped out of his quarters. "Keep up, my Majesties! It will get cooler as we go deeper into the bowels of the palace!"
"Great..." groaned Rei, who promptly lost her balance and fell with a smack on her face. Ami giggled and helped her up. "Come on, Rei. I believe he's taking us to the Vaults."
"Oh goody."
Rei had to admit, she was actually impressed. After sliding down countless steep icy (what else) inclines and losing their way in the cellars, Melvin finally stopped in front of a large steel door. "All my records and files of Mercurian Royal Geneology are in this room," he had stated, pushing his glasses up his nose. She and Ami had found themselves in a large dark room covered from wall to wall with computers. More technology and software than Ami had ever seen in her life...which was quite amazing. She admired the neatness and organization, testing a laptop for dust.
"What an incredible place, Melvin."
"It certainly is. Every person of the Ice Folk who has lived and died on Mercury is in here. Ami, you, your parents, and all your ancestors are written into these files. Now we just have to look for a royal with abnormally high elemental powers of ice and water!"
Logging on, he sat at a computer, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Immediately a screen flickered on, filled with running mathematical symbols, numbers, and letters. "My code," he explained to a puzzled Rei. Ami was nodding her head, she at least understood some of the calculations. Of course, trigonometry and calculus help. A database appeared, with a search box.
"Now to enter the stats." His fingers were a blur, typing quicker than their eyes could keep up. "Ahah! I found it!" crowed Melvin. "Just a few more seconds, and you'll find some likely people who could be Mercury...the message is almost completely loaded."
Rei and Ami leaned over his shoulders, intent upon the screen.
...beep...beep...beeeeep...
Night fell upon the Selene Aurora Palace, bathing it in a pale bluish glow. Queen Serenity sat upon her tall bed, silently combing her ivory hair. She resembled an ancient wise unicorn, giving off an aura of ethereal peace and tranquility. Looking out of her window at the bright blue orb below, swathed in mist from the Mare Nubium, Sea of Clouds, her mind turned back to a conversation held earlier that day...
"Why were the Outer Senshi found so easily?"
Empress Kasei of Mars looked up, mildly surprised. "Why does it matter, Milady? Surely now that they are found it is of no consequence." Serenity walked softly towards the Fire Queen. "I just wanted to know...how come they recieved their powers so easily? Sailor Pluto told me a small portion of their mission, which I predict is highly different from the Inners' purpose. How did their mothers know that it was they who were the chosen ones? Does it mean that our daughters could be Sailor Senshi...simply because they are royalty?"
Kasei chuckled, her blood red gown trailing rubescent silk behind her. "Oh, Serenity...have you forgotten the legends and prophecies of old? Were you asleep through all your mystic lore and literature classes? Mayhap you and your daughter are not too distantly related after all..."
"I must have forgotten...either that or not interpreted the visions correctly." mused the Moon Empress. "Please, my royal advisor and Seer. Tell me the prophecy that pertains to the Sailor Senshi...the one given by your great grandmother Ferahdrea. Perhaps it will answer a few questions."
Kasei bowed her raven head. "As you wish, splendor..."
Legends say that in the dawning of time and creation, there were nine planets formed in a small spiral galaxy. Each planet had the protection and patronage of a single element...
Mercury, planet of ice lakes
Mars, planet of celestial fire
Venus, planet of loving beauty
Jupiter, planet of earth lightning
Saturn, planet of deathly silence
Uranus, planet of clear sky
Neptune, planet of gentle ocean
Pluto, planet of the fleeting moment
There was one more planet, an incredibly different world known to its inhabitants as Earth. Earth, the jewel among all planets; she had all the elements wrapped into one single world. Power, more power than any other planet could ever dream of was within this blue planet. But for one. Unlike her neighbors, Earth had only one single moon, a gleaming pearl of pure white light...known simply as the Moon. While Earth became the planet of hope and possibilities, the Moon was the world of Infinite compassion. It was no wonder that Earth and its Moon became leaders of all the other planets. And the small spiral system was happy, for a time.
Perhaps it was the incredibly dark powers bestowed upon Earth that stained her spirit. Millennia after the dawn of time, there came a black goddess. Born from the molten depths of the sun, she, like so many other evil beings, cast her eyes upon Earth and found it delightsome.
"The...the legend isn't really clear after this, splendor. Many ancient scrolls and parchments have been destroyed, so that we've had to piece the rest out."
"You are fine, my friend. Continue."
Ages passed, fading into history. But something will happen that was not supposed to, something that will change the course of time , good or evil, forever. Something not even the evil ones who lurk Earth and space could have surmised. The strangest connection between Moon and Earth happened. Soullight turning to the black of death. For this strange union, I foretell doom for all if Earth and Moon ever again align. Evil will destroy all, world by world...
Three stars will shine over the three planets of sky, ocean, and time, then merge into one scythe of death, the Destroyer herself. That is when life and time itself shall shatter into obliteration...able to be stopped by nothing.
Salvation is a single tear held in the hands of the one who rules life and holds the delicate scale of justice. Ancient warriors and guardians of the planets must give their life force to protect She who Rules Life, and to fulfil the mission of She who Holds Death. That will be done, or all must perish.
"And thus, Serenity, your questions are answered. The Outer Senshi are the ones who guard us from outer invaders. They work alone, yet at times they may band together to fight more efficiently. Light refracts from their three talismans as you saw earlier today...the light in the prophecy."
"Leading to the scythe of the goddess of death."
"Sailor Saturn."
"It is starting to make sense...so this evil is happening because one of Earth and one of the Moon have 'aligned'? This joining is causing all the death and turmoil in our planets?"
Kasei chuckled. "You could say that...
" I wouldn't worry about the Inner Senshi or even the Guardians too much, Serenity. Things will turn out all right in due time. Just have patience."
The Moon Empress laid down her comb, her mother of pearl eyes straying to an ornately fashioned star locket. It hung from a delicate golden chain around the memorograph of her late husband. Selene stood up and lifted the antique bauble from its place, fingering the slender hands that moved in accordance to the moon's tides. Stretching out a hand, she lightly tapped the blank memorograph and whispered a Lunarian chant. Now connected to her past thoughts and memories, the frame revealed a smiling, handsome Earthian with kind soft blue eyes. "Seamus..." He is gone, she furiously reminded herself. Dead and gone for many centuries of her long, long lifetime, killed in the Great War. In her many years she had never been able to forget him, the sound of his laughter, the taste of his kisses, the warmth of his arms.
Selene slowly walked back to her canopy bed. Pulling up the white silken sheets, she opened the locket. An eerie, yet hauntingly beautiful strain of melody caressed her mind, wrapping her in its embrace as it had so many times before. In the dark, no one saw tears roll down her pale cheeks as she cried silently in the night, the star locket pressed against her chest.
