Act II - Continued
General Urawa Ryo was thrown backwards by a silent tsunami of brilliant blue light; Rei fell to her knees trembling. Suisei remained still, sprawled on the floor...the bodies of her foes strewn around her inert form. Her tired blue eyes peered at the immense flash of light that still glowed brighter than the midday sun...where her daughter and her general hung suspended.
The last rags of their kirtles thinned like mist into oblivion. A strain of mystical music floated through the air. Ami's form was submerged in liquid coils of luminescent water, which twisted and splashed. Her cerulean hair rippled in the breeze as Sailor Mercury opened her wide azure eyes, and laughed. Glinting in the soft light, her curved golden tiara was inlaid with a single dark sapphire. Tall boots tipped with the same richly hued stone reached up her legs to her thighs, a fuku of the same deep lake blue resting against her body.
Rebekka's long wheat gold tresses blowed wildly, strands flitting over her calm face. Her slim form was bathed in pure cool blue light, as tendrils of shining ice wrapped around her limbs. A queer mist writhed around Guardian Mercury's icecap bluish fuku, casting a luminescent glow against the darker blue of Sailor Mercury. Smiling, she pulled back her dark golden hair, the hue of rippling grain, to reveal a golden tiara embedded with a pale blue sapphire.
The mist cleared, revealing the figures of Mercury's senshi. Rei cast a worried glance at Ryo. Who are they? And where is Ami and Bekka? He turned his head to look at Princess Hino Rei, a smile creasing his dark troubled eyes. Incredible. Ami and Bekka seem to have undergone a transformation...for I sense it is they who walk before us now. I knew trouble and good fortune would arise if the Black Diamond ever faced off against our princess.
She blinked, then slowly a smile spread across her face. You are quite a good Seer, Urawa Ryo, and are to be commended. If what you are thinking is the truth, we should have no more troubles with these remaining ninjana.
They stood back to back, gloved arms folded across their ribboned bodysuits.
"I am the graceful Soldier of Wisdom, Sailor Mercury! I control the power of water!"
"And I am the swift Soldier of Intellect, Guardian Mercury! I control the power of ice!"
Assuming attack stance, they faced the remaining survivors of the ninjana, whose faces had abruptly lost all their color. "Surrender or die!"
"And yo bed is ovah there, here's th' pantry, an' I'll introduce ya t'the cats!" Led forward by an exuberant Molly, Serena walked into her new home. It was a small comfortable room in the servant's hut, with brightly patterned rugs covering the cobblestone floor. A small cooking fire burned slowly, its embers glowing like rubies. Rubies... Serena mused silently. How would I, a simple peasant girl, know what they are? Peering at the fire again, her thoughts twisted. Strangely enough, I remember someone wearing them...she had long raven hair?
Pots and pans hung in domestic disarray, jugs of milk and cream were scattered around, lying on the sturdy table, stacked in creaky cupboards. Cats of all size, shape, and hue wandered about the room, mewling and scratching Molly's skirt. "Ah know it don't look like much, but tis better than some hovels ah've seen in these parts." Molly grabbed a cleaning rag, doused it liberally in sand grimed water, and began to scrub the table. Picking up an old twiggy broom, Serena swept the filthy floor. Her old kirtle had been burned, and she now was clad in a plain brown kirtle, with a hemp apron tied around her slim form. The boots Molly had picked for her were heavier than she was used to, and clunked as she walked around. About two feet of her incredibly long pale golden hair had beem sawed off with a kitchen knife. "Too bothersame t' comb...tho' I regret cuttin' it." Molly had tied some twine around the gleaming cut strands and gave them to Serena. "Who knows? Mayhap you'll give these locks to a lovah!" She had winked teasingly at the blonde maiden, who just stared back blankly. "Love?" she whispered.
The clothes felt bulky and restricting, especially around her shoulders and neck; the rough cloth chafing her soft hands. A soft mew came from Serena's feet. Placing the broom against a wall, she leaned over. A pair of glowing crimson eyes, gleaming like slitted garnets, stared back at her. The cat mewled again, pawing her kirtle. She, for Serena was sure this cat was female, had incredibly night black fur, like sable. Squinting, she peered closer, for over those queer shifting eyes was an upturned crescent moon symbol, shining a brilliant gold. ...Odd....Where have I seen that before...
Another feline stalked forward. Lithe and graceful, the tomcat had blindingly white fur, like freshly fallen snow. Above his leonine features blazed the same crescent moon, glinting in the light over his blinking cobalt blue eyes. Purring slightly, he rubbed his head against Serena's hand.
"Ah...I think they like ya, Serena!" Molly crouched down, wide eyed at the sight of the two cats, who were now meowing ferociously and rubbing their silky backs against Serena's fingers. "This is really odd! Theyah newcomers, see...Milady Beryl had these two cats imported from...somewhere exotic, Mau sumthin', ah can't remember th' name o' the' place...anyways...they wouldn't let Beryl touch them!"
Serena traced the black female's crescent moon in awe. "Strange, they seem friendly enough." The snowy one looped his tail about her wrist, gently but firmly tugging her towards the table. "What is it they want, Molly?" she wondered aloud as the black one did the same, pulling her other arm.
"Ah, silly me, I forgot! On th' table are jugs o' milk n' cream. Y'just pour it in one o' these wide saucers, like so, an' set it on th' ground. Mind y' don't spill! They must be starvin'!"
"Molly," Serena carefully place three bowls of cream floating in milk upon a rug. The crowd of mewling tails and gemlike eyes set upon it instantaneously, lapping it up with rough rosy tongues. The two black and white cats joined their fellows; the black female looked over her shoulder. In her liquid burgundy eyes was something akin to human gratitude.
"Why does Lady Beryl keep so many cats? I shoould think one or two would be enough to keep her company, but I see so many wandering around. Why?"
"Bursting with questions, Serena..." Molly chuckled. "Well, the reason that makes sense seems kinda weird...with a manor this big, we need lots o' cats to keep it free o' mice an' such. But what some folk speculate about..." The redhead drew closer to the blonde maiden, blue eyes burning in mischief. She whispered, "They say Beryl uses them in her spells, that she weaves all kinds o' sorcery an' trouble with them. That crazy lady has traveled every place imaginable on Earth fer...fer who knows what. Corpus bones! All these sweet felines 'wud rather be drowned in a sack than be near that un'. All creatures give Beryl a wide berth; she's no one to be trifled with. Well, tis only gossip." She shrugged, absentmindedly patting a tabby female with wide amber eyes.
Serena smiled briefly. "Interesting, I'd like to meet Beryl sometime. Wonder what she'll name these two..." Her fingers teased the tail of the jet-black female.
"They already came wi' names."
"What do you mean?"
Shrugging yet again, the coppery haired maid stood up and briskly brushed cat hair off herself. "They just have names. Beryl told me...the black un' is Luna, and the white tom is Artemis. Strange names if ye ask me...might as well say they're from the Moon wi' names loik that. Th' others are called things like Sidhe, Mairan, Dillweed, all good Earthian names."
Sitting upon a creaky stool, Serena stroked Luna, who sat on her lap purring uproariously. "When do I meet Beryl?"
"At tomorrow's first light, ye will have y' first audience. Jus' do exactly as I say, n' you'll get on her good side. I pity any person who tries that witch's temper."
It was dusk on Mercury, the sun fading into dimmed oblivion. Silver ripples were cast upon the tall ice spires of Mariner Palace, gusts of wind picking up strength. Vague eddies of cold air blew Empress Suisei's formal sapphire gown in tendrils of silk, Sailor Mercury and her watchful guardian a few paces behind her. Rei shivered, pulling her heating cloak more closely around her slender frame. General Urawa Ryo was heavily armed and grim faced; more than a league of determined Mercurian soldiers stood at his back.
Her dark ancient blue eyes scanned the nervous surviving ninjana huddled before her. Allowing herself a wry smile, Empress Suisei spoke clearly and firmly. "You have only two choices. Either surrender yourselves to us, lay down your weapons, and we shall spare your miserable lives. Or, you will be exterminated." She swept her arm towards the Senshi now standing beside her. Ryo glanced at Sailor Mercury, noting with unease that her usually tranquil cerulean eyes were now completely filled with strange bluish light. "Each are highly capable of this act, as you most likely saw in our last, rather bloody, battle. Keep in mind, however..." her eyes froze to cold steel.
"No matter which you choose, I shall never forget the loss of life that has happened today. And for every breath you take, every step you walk, and every moment in what is left of your lives; I will never let you forget the terrible things you have done. Thousands of my innocent people were slaughtered today. This once breathtaking city of Mariner must be rebuilt, thanks to your careless destruction."
"Those of you who choose surrender, "she continued, "will be taken to the subaqueous mines of Myrran...where you will spend fifty years excavating sapphires. After decades of backbreaking toil, you will be free to go where you will." Suisei walked closer to the ninja, the majority of which were trembling. Her cold voice hissed softly.
"But if I find even one of you back on my planet ever again, I shall make your deaths so painful you will be begging for mercy in Hades. It will make the casualties you have already seen in war look like child's play with twigs. Now choose!"
Moments stretched on as the huddle of ninjana shifted uncomfortably. They muttered among themselves, until one ninja sighed and nodded.
Sailor Mercury and Guardian Mercury had already powered up, the subzero air emanating from the Senshi chilling Rei to the bone. The soldiers grew restless, General Urawa calling for silence. Empress Suisei held her ground, standing quietly as the single ninjana detached herself from the group and cleared her throat. Rubbing her bound wrists together, the assassin lifted her dark eyes to meet Suisei's cold ageless ones. "We...we will not surrender." Her voice rasped heavily. Shaking her head, she retracted to the group. "He will kill us if we live, and life in the mines is worse than death. We will never surrender..." she muttered fiercely. Quiet voices spoke agreement, ninjana allowed their arms to fall limply to their sides.
Everyone watch with bated breath as Suisei looked calmly down at the defiant women. In a quiet, sad voice she uttered, "So be it." She gestured to the warriors beside her.
"Mercury Subzero Chill!"
Tall sapphire soled boots tapped against the ice as she eerily spun in the air. Clouded mist writhed in ornate twists around her limbs as Guardian Mercury focused all the energy into her hands; where she fed it into a glowing ball of light. She took careful aim, then with all her strength, the guardian threw it at the group of screaming ninjana. Utter silence passed as they stared in shock at the brilliant energy speeding towards them; then hell broke loose. Women screamed in agony, eyes rolling in fear as they felt their innards freeze from the mist. General Urawa turned away from the grisly sight, covering a trembling Rei's eyes. "This is no place for a young woman," he muttered.
"Mercury Spray Freeze!"
Bringing her hands together at the wrists, Sailor Mercury concentrated fiercely. A small liquid bubble of energy began to swell, gaining power and size as she gathered her magic about her...using what energy she had left to fuel the blast. A faint earsplitting whisper was heard in the air. Her job done, Guardian Mercury braced herself, watching the Water Senshi as her usually peaceful eyes froze into unholy pits of darkness.
Silence again hung in the air for a split second. Then, the soft whisper turned into a terrible roar as a massive storm of freezing water was hurled at the remaining ninja. The survivors of the last attack were breathless, mouths opened in an attempt to scream. As soon as the water hit their bodies, it froze instantly. Covered in a faint sheen of snowflakes, a landscape of twisted mangled corpses was all that was left of the once proud Black Diamond ninja.
"Ugh..." Detransforming, Princess Mizuno Ami fainted. Regaining his senses, Ryo barely caught her before she smacked against the cold ground. Also in her normal form again, Bekka Li gasped for air. Rei put her arms around the newly found Ice Senshi. "Wow," she smiled. "I'd have never guessed that you and Ami would be the longlost warriors of Mercury! Its amazing!" Bekka smiled weakly. "Thanks, I think."
Delicately picking her way through the frozen bodies, Empress Suisei dismissed the royal guards, who looked very happy to go. "I had no idea either...it truly is a matter of destiny choosing who is best able to deal with the responsiblity." Glancing at her fatigued daughter, she grinned. "I think Ami needs a good nights rest. And so do all of us. Let's get some sleep."
Stifling a yawn, Bekka and Rei tottered up to their rooms. Gently positioning the limp girl in his arms, Ryo walked towards the medical infirmary, his mind completely focused on one thing: Ami Mizuno.
The machine monitoring her heartbeat and vital signs gave out a steady blip...blip...
Clean and fed, Ryo knelt down by Ami's bedside, holding her hand. His chest had been wrapped in bandages from the arduous battle earlier on that day. He smiled slightly, remembering that foul concoction the doctor had forced him to drink. He was sure she meant well...but if getting war wounds meant drinking that...that stuff again, Ryo had just become a pacifist.
Looking back at Ami's still form, he sighed. Footsteps sounded behind him. "Are you sure you don't need any rest?" He looked up and smiled at the slim woman walking in with concern in her eyes. Dr. Lessabeth Cerusi checked Ami's intravenous drip, adjusting the flow meter. She was garbed in a white longcoat, her rippling dark auburn hair flowing in ringlets to her shoulders. Wide, strangely pale aquamarine eyes gazed softly at the general. "Princess Mizuno is only fatigued from the day's action, General Urawa. She should be up and walking again by tomorrow afternoon. In fact, Rebekka Li suffered even harsher wounds, yet she is fine. I suppose it is simply her Jupiterrian background." She walked towards the door, chuckling to herself. "Their race is usually quite resilient...well, if you need anything, the call light is right there. Get some rest."
"Thank you." Wrapping a warm blanket around his tunic clad form, Ryo dug out a note from his pocket. He had taken off his burdensome armor earlier that night, for anyone who wore seventy pounds of hammered lapis lazuli metal for over a day was insane. He cocked his head; Dr. Cerusi was well down the hallway by now. Grinning, he looked down at the princess. Her mouth was open slightly, head tilted to the side. Dark blue strands of hair had fallen across her pale forehead. She was even snoring.
Unfolding the paper, Ryo cleared his throat. "Well, I know you can't really hear me, Ami," he shot her sleeping form a wry smirk. "Just as well, I wrote this yesterday. It's probably better that you never hear this anyhow. Well, here it goes." He took a deep breath, gathering what courage he had.
Walking carefully so she wouldn't spill the bucket of milk, Serena strode away from the stable. "They never mentioned that I had to learn how to milk a cow in my job description," she muttered. Her and the old cow Bossy had not gotten along very well. After kicking Serena in the shins and upsetting the half filled bucket countless times, Serena threw Bossy a bundle of hay and grumpily sat down to finish. Once the stupid animal had something to munch on, Serena found that the milking went along rather smoothly.
Molly had been true to her word; she had an audience with Beryl that morning. She shivered. Molly had dressed her in a pale rose pink kirtle with a kerchief of fine rosy wool to cover her unevenly chopped hair. Her cats had protested the departure of their caregiver loudly with plaintive cries. Molly locked the door behind them, her face unusually serious. As Serena had entered the large audience chamber, countless nobility turned and stared at her, revulsed. Whispers filled the air, women gossiping quietly behind their swishing velvet fans. Seated on her throne of black marble set on a dais, the Lady Beryl surveyed her domain with half closed, deceptively sleepy amber eyes.
Bowing deeply, Molly cleared her throat. "High Lady Beryl, ah am Osaka Molly, this is owah newest arrival. Her name's Serena. Serena?"
The smell of nightshade...A thousand years to your rule, Majesty...Majesty?
The girl's blue eyes were vacant and dilated, focused upon Beryl. The High Lady leaned forward, a gleam of unpleasantly vicious curiosity in her eyes. "Strange...do I...know you? Where are you from, girl? Speak up!"
Serena merely stood there, unmoving. Molly prodded her ribs fiercely with her knuckles. "Wake up!" she hissed, eyes wide. "Beryl's talking to you!"
Hair like flame, the tresses burning into her vision. Sharp amber eyes, snake eyes...
With a soundless pop, her sight focused. Starting with surprise at her whereabouts, Serena dropped a hasty curtsy. "A thousand years to your rule...Ma...milady Beryl."
Beryl's eyes narrowed in suspicion, then with a bored flick of her hand she acknowledge the girl and dismissed her. As Serena turned away gratefully, Beryl spoke sharply. "Stop!"
She stopped, then looked back.
The woman's eyes glittered, cold and calculating. "See that my cats recieve the best of care."
Pouring the milk into the cat's saucers, Serena frowned. Somehow she couldn't quite remember a crucial piece of information about this woman...she was sure she had never heard of her before this...right? For the thousandth time since she woke up in the forest, Serena tried to remember back before...before whatever had happened. Nothing. It was as if a blindfold had been placed over her eyes, a veil concealing all sight of her past.
What's going on?
"I hope that when you read this letter, it will not be too much of a shock to you, Ami."
Pacing in the small hospital cubicle, Ryo continued with his eyes closed, the letter tucked back away in his pocket. "Ever since we studied basic trigonometry and battle strategy together, I have always admired your thirst for learning. When the other students teased me about my Martian heritage, you, you were the only one who stood up for me. Sometimes I wonder why."
"And when I had yet another frightening vision of what could possibly be the future, you were always there to listen to me and tell me it was not a reality. You, Ami Mizuno, you were my best friend when we were young. Now what are we?"
He stopped right beside her bed. Her breaths were shallow. Ryo's dark somber eyes scanned over Ami's perfectly formed face, her delicately molded features, the small rosy lips. "Now we are practically adults, you are nineteen and I am twenty two." Ryo forced himself to continue, a flush building in his cheeks. "And things have probably changed for you as they have for me. Now I'm a trusted advisor to your mother, of all things. You are the crown heir to Mercury's throne, and now..." he leaned over. "You are Sailor Mercury, Senshi of Water."
"What are we? We're still friends, I believe. I hope that we are close. I've been thinking lately...what if we were more? Could anything happen between you and I? I apologize...these are foolish questions that really can't be resolved or answered. But I hope that no matter what you think of me for saying this, or even if you have an arranged marriage like most royalty...that you keep me in your heart. I will always be your friend."
Leaning close, he lightly brushed his lips against Ami's forehead. What happened next caused him to stop in his tracks. Ami laughed softly, her face inches away from his.
"Don't worry so much, Ryo. You'll get wrinkles."
His face split in a wide smile. With a start, he felt her cold soft hand reaching up around his neck, pulling him down. He allowed his face to creep even closer to hers. Their eyes never broke their gaze from each other as Ami smiled. "I have been waiting forever for you to say something like that to me. Why did you wait so long?"
"Well," he smiled warmly, "I don't know."
Their warm kiss melted the cool night air, the light from the stars outside dappling the embracing couple with myriads of spacefire.
General Urawa Ryo was thrown backwards by a silent tsunami of brilliant blue light; Rei fell to her knees trembling. Suisei remained still, sprawled on the floor...the bodies of her foes strewn around her inert form. Her tired blue eyes peered at the immense flash of light that still glowed brighter than the midday sun...where her daughter and her general hung suspended.
The last rags of their kirtles thinned like mist into oblivion. A strain of mystical music floated through the air. Ami's form was submerged in liquid coils of luminescent water, which twisted and splashed. Her cerulean hair rippled in the breeze as Sailor Mercury opened her wide azure eyes, and laughed. Glinting in the soft light, her curved golden tiara was inlaid with a single dark sapphire. Tall boots tipped with the same richly hued stone reached up her legs to her thighs, a fuku of the same deep lake blue resting against her body.
Rebekka's long wheat gold tresses blowed wildly, strands flitting over her calm face. Her slim form was bathed in pure cool blue light, as tendrils of shining ice wrapped around her limbs. A queer mist writhed around Guardian Mercury's icecap bluish fuku, casting a luminescent glow against the darker blue of Sailor Mercury. Smiling, she pulled back her dark golden hair, the hue of rippling grain, to reveal a golden tiara embedded with a pale blue sapphire.
The mist cleared, revealing the figures of Mercury's senshi. Rei cast a worried glance at Ryo. Who are they? And where is Ami and Bekka? He turned his head to look at Princess Hino Rei, a smile creasing his dark troubled eyes. Incredible. Ami and Bekka seem to have undergone a transformation...for I sense it is they who walk before us now. I knew trouble and good fortune would arise if the Black Diamond ever faced off against our princess.
She blinked, then slowly a smile spread across her face. You are quite a good Seer, Urawa Ryo, and are to be commended. If what you are thinking is the truth, we should have no more troubles with these remaining ninjana.
They stood back to back, gloved arms folded across their ribboned bodysuits.
"I am the graceful Soldier of Wisdom, Sailor Mercury! I control the power of water!"
"And I am the swift Soldier of Intellect, Guardian Mercury! I control the power of ice!"
Assuming attack stance, they faced the remaining survivors of the ninjana, whose faces had abruptly lost all their color. "Surrender or die!"
"And yo bed is ovah there, here's th' pantry, an' I'll introduce ya t'the cats!" Led forward by an exuberant Molly, Serena walked into her new home. It was a small comfortable room in the servant's hut, with brightly patterned rugs covering the cobblestone floor. A small cooking fire burned slowly, its embers glowing like rubies. Rubies... Serena mused silently. How would I, a simple peasant girl, know what they are? Peering at the fire again, her thoughts twisted. Strangely enough, I remember someone wearing them...she had long raven hair?
Pots and pans hung in domestic disarray, jugs of milk and cream were scattered around, lying on the sturdy table, stacked in creaky cupboards. Cats of all size, shape, and hue wandered about the room, mewling and scratching Molly's skirt. "Ah know it don't look like much, but tis better than some hovels ah've seen in these parts." Molly grabbed a cleaning rag, doused it liberally in sand grimed water, and began to scrub the table. Picking up an old twiggy broom, Serena swept the filthy floor. Her old kirtle had been burned, and she now was clad in a plain brown kirtle, with a hemp apron tied around her slim form. The boots Molly had picked for her were heavier than she was used to, and clunked as she walked around. About two feet of her incredibly long pale golden hair had beem sawed off with a kitchen knife. "Too bothersame t' comb...tho' I regret cuttin' it." Molly had tied some twine around the gleaming cut strands and gave them to Serena. "Who knows? Mayhap you'll give these locks to a lovah!" She had winked teasingly at the blonde maiden, who just stared back blankly. "Love?" she whispered.
The clothes felt bulky and restricting, especially around her shoulders and neck; the rough cloth chafing her soft hands. A soft mew came from Serena's feet. Placing the broom against a wall, she leaned over. A pair of glowing crimson eyes, gleaming like slitted garnets, stared back at her. The cat mewled again, pawing her kirtle. She, for Serena was sure this cat was female, had incredibly night black fur, like sable. Squinting, she peered closer, for over those queer shifting eyes was an upturned crescent moon symbol, shining a brilliant gold. ...Odd....Where have I seen that before...
Another feline stalked forward. Lithe and graceful, the tomcat had blindingly white fur, like freshly fallen snow. Above his leonine features blazed the same crescent moon, glinting in the light over his blinking cobalt blue eyes. Purring slightly, he rubbed his head against Serena's hand.
"Ah...I think they like ya, Serena!" Molly crouched down, wide eyed at the sight of the two cats, who were now meowing ferociously and rubbing their silky backs against Serena's fingers. "This is really odd! Theyah newcomers, see...Milady Beryl had these two cats imported from...somewhere exotic, Mau sumthin', ah can't remember th' name o' the' place...anyways...they wouldn't let Beryl touch them!"
Serena traced the black female's crescent moon in awe. "Strange, they seem friendly enough." The snowy one looped his tail about her wrist, gently but firmly tugging her towards the table. "What is it they want, Molly?" she wondered aloud as the black one did the same, pulling her other arm.
"Ah, silly me, I forgot! On th' table are jugs o' milk n' cream. Y'just pour it in one o' these wide saucers, like so, an' set it on th' ground. Mind y' don't spill! They must be starvin'!"
"Molly," Serena carefully place three bowls of cream floating in milk upon a rug. The crowd of mewling tails and gemlike eyes set upon it instantaneously, lapping it up with rough rosy tongues. The two black and white cats joined their fellows; the black female looked over her shoulder. In her liquid burgundy eyes was something akin to human gratitude.
"Why does Lady Beryl keep so many cats? I shoould think one or two would be enough to keep her company, but I see so many wandering around. Why?"
"Bursting with questions, Serena..." Molly chuckled. "Well, the reason that makes sense seems kinda weird...with a manor this big, we need lots o' cats to keep it free o' mice an' such. But what some folk speculate about..." The redhead drew closer to the blonde maiden, blue eyes burning in mischief. She whispered, "They say Beryl uses them in her spells, that she weaves all kinds o' sorcery an' trouble with them. That crazy lady has traveled every place imaginable on Earth fer...fer who knows what. Corpus bones! All these sweet felines 'wud rather be drowned in a sack than be near that un'. All creatures give Beryl a wide berth; she's no one to be trifled with. Well, tis only gossip." She shrugged, absentmindedly patting a tabby female with wide amber eyes.
Serena smiled briefly. "Interesting, I'd like to meet Beryl sometime. Wonder what she'll name these two..." Her fingers teased the tail of the jet-black female.
"They already came wi' names."
"What do you mean?"
Shrugging yet again, the coppery haired maid stood up and briskly brushed cat hair off herself. "They just have names. Beryl told me...the black un' is Luna, and the white tom is Artemis. Strange names if ye ask me...might as well say they're from the Moon wi' names loik that. Th' others are called things like Sidhe, Mairan, Dillweed, all good Earthian names."
Sitting upon a creaky stool, Serena stroked Luna, who sat on her lap purring uproariously. "When do I meet Beryl?"
"At tomorrow's first light, ye will have y' first audience. Jus' do exactly as I say, n' you'll get on her good side. I pity any person who tries that witch's temper."
It was dusk on Mercury, the sun fading into dimmed oblivion. Silver ripples were cast upon the tall ice spires of Mariner Palace, gusts of wind picking up strength. Vague eddies of cold air blew Empress Suisei's formal sapphire gown in tendrils of silk, Sailor Mercury and her watchful guardian a few paces behind her. Rei shivered, pulling her heating cloak more closely around her slender frame. General Urawa Ryo was heavily armed and grim faced; more than a league of determined Mercurian soldiers stood at his back.
Her dark ancient blue eyes scanned the nervous surviving ninjana huddled before her. Allowing herself a wry smile, Empress Suisei spoke clearly and firmly. "You have only two choices. Either surrender yourselves to us, lay down your weapons, and we shall spare your miserable lives. Or, you will be exterminated." She swept her arm towards the Senshi now standing beside her. Ryo glanced at Sailor Mercury, noting with unease that her usually tranquil cerulean eyes were now completely filled with strange bluish light. "Each are highly capable of this act, as you most likely saw in our last, rather bloody, battle. Keep in mind, however..." her eyes froze to cold steel.
"No matter which you choose, I shall never forget the loss of life that has happened today. And for every breath you take, every step you walk, and every moment in what is left of your lives; I will never let you forget the terrible things you have done. Thousands of my innocent people were slaughtered today. This once breathtaking city of Mariner must be rebuilt, thanks to your careless destruction."
"Those of you who choose surrender, "she continued, "will be taken to the subaqueous mines of Myrran...where you will spend fifty years excavating sapphires. After decades of backbreaking toil, you will be free to go where you will." Suisei walked closer to the ninja, the majority of which were trembling. Her cold voice hissed softly.
"But if I find even one of you back on my planet ever again, I shall make your deaths so painful you will be begging for mercy in Hades. It will make the casualties you have already seen in war look like child's play with twigs. Now choose!"
Moments stretched on as the huddle of ninjana shifted uncomfortably. They muttered among themselves, until one ninja sighed and nodded.
Sailor Mercury and Guardian Mercury had already powered up, the subzero air emanating from the Senshi chilling Rei to the bone. The soldiers grew restless, General Urawa calling for silence. Empress Suisei held her ground, standing quietly as the single ninjana detached herself from the group and cleared her throat. Rubbing her bound wrists together, the assassin lifted her dark eyes to meet Suisei's cold ageless ones. "We...we will not surrender." Her voice rasped heavily. Shaking her head, she retracted to the group. "He will kill us if we live, and life in the mines is worse than death. We will never surrender..." she muttered fiercely. Quiet voices spoke agreement, ninjana allowed their arms to fall limply to their sides.
Everyone watch with bated breath as Suisei looked calmly down at the defiant women. In a quiet, sad voice she uttered, "So be it." She gestured to the warriors beside her.
"Mercury Subzero Chill!"
Tall sapphire soled boots tapped against the ice as she eerily spun in the air. Clouded mist writhed in ornate twists around her limbs as Guardian Mercury focused all the energy into her hands; where she fed it into a glowing ball of light. She took careful aim, then with all her strength, the guardian threw it at the group of screaming ninjana. Utter silence passed as they stared in shock at the brilliant energy speeding towards them; then hell broke loose. Women screamed in agony, eyes rolling in fear as they felt their innards freeze from the mist. General Urawa turned away from the grisly sight, covering a trembling Rei's eyes. "This is no place for a young woman," he muttered.
"Mercury Spray Freeze!"
Bringing her hands together at the wrists, Sailor Mercury concentrated fiercely. A small liquid bubble of energy began to swell, gaining power and size as she gathered her magic about her...using what energy she had left to fuel the blast. A faint earsplitting whisper was heard in the air. Her job done, Guardian Mercury braced herself, watching the Water Senshi as her usually peaceful eyes froze into unholy pits of darkness.
Silence again hung in the air for a split second. Then, the soft whisper turned into a terrible roar as a massive storm of freezing water was hurled at the remaining ninja. The survivors of the last attack were breathless, mouths opened in an attempt to scream. As soon as the water hit their bodies, it froze instantly. Covered in a faint sheen of snowflakes, a landscape of twisted mangled corpses was all that was left of the once proud Black Diamond ninja.
"Ugh..." Detransforming, Princess Mizuno Ami fainted. Regaining his senses, Ryo barely caught her before she smacked against the cold ground. Also in her normal form again, Bekka Li gasped for air. Rei put her arms around the newly found Ice Senshi. "Wow," she smiled. "I'd have never guessed that you and Ami would be the longlost warriors of Mercury! Its amazing!" Bekka smiled weakly. "Thanks, I think."
Delicately picking her way through the frozen bodies, Empress Suisei dismissed the royal guards, who looked very happy to go. "I had no idea either...it truly is a matter of destiny choosing who is best able to deal with the responsiblity." Glancing at her fatigued daughter, she grinned. "I think Ami needs a good nights rest. And so do all of us. Let's get some sleep."
Stifling a yawn, Bekka and Rei tottered up to their rooms. Gently positioning the limp girl in his arms, Ryo walked towards the medical infirmary, his mind completely focused on one thing: Ami Mizuno.
The machine monitoring her heartbeat and vital signs gave out a steady blip...blip...
Clean and fed, Ryo knelt down by Ami's bedside, holding her hand. His chest had been wrapped in bandages from the arduous battle earlier on that day. He smiled slightly, remembering that foul concoction the doctor had forced him to drink. He was sure she meant well...but if getting war wounds meant drinking that...that stuff again, Ryo had just become a pacifist.
Looking back at Ami's still form, he sighed. Footsteps sounded behind him. "Are you sure you don't need any rest?" He looked up and smiled at the slim woman walking in with concern in her eyes. Dr. Lessabeth Cerusi checked Ami's intravenous drip, adjusting the flow meter. She was garbed in a white longcoat, her rippling dark auburn hair flowing in ringlets to her shoulders. Wide, strangely pale aquamarine eyes gazed softly at the general. "Princess Mizuno is only fatigued from the day's action, General Urawa. She should be up and walking again by tomorrow afternoon. In fact, Rebekka Li suffered even harsher wounds, yet she is fine. I suppose it is simply her Jupiterrian background." She walked towards the door, chuckling to herself. "Their race is usually quite resilient...well, if you need anything, the call light is right there. Get some rest."
"Thank you." Wrapping a warm blanket around his tunic clad form, Ryo dug out a note from his pocket. He had taken off his burdensome armor earlier that night, for anyone who wore seventy pounds of hammered lapis lazuli metal for over a day was insane. He cocked his head; Dr. Cerusi was well down the hallway by now. Grinning, he looked down at the princess. Her mouth was open slightly, head tilted to the side. Dark blue strands of hair had fallen across her pale forehead. She was even snoring.
Unfolding the paper, Ryo cleared his throat. "Well, I know you can't really hear me, Ami," he shot her sleeping form a wry smirk. "Just as well, I wrote this yesterday. It's probably better that you never hear this anyhow. Well, here it goes." He took a deep breath, gathering what courage he had.
Walking carefully so she wouldn't spill the bucket of milk, Serena strode away from the stable. "They never mentioned that I had to learn how to milk a cow in my job description," she muttered. Her and the old cow Bossy had not gotten along very well. After kicking Serena in the shins and upsetting the half filled bucket countless times, Serena threw Bossy a bundle of hay and grumpily sat down to finish. Once the stupid animal had something to munch on, Serena found that the milking went along rather smoothly.
Molly had been true to her word; she had an audience with Beryl that morning. She shivered. Molly had dressed her in a pale rose pink kirtle with a kerchief of fine rosy wool to cover her unevenly chopped hair. Her cats had protested the departure of their caregiver loudly with plaintive cries. Molly locked the door behind them, her face unusually serious. As Serena had entered the large audience chamber, countless nobility turned and stared at her, revulsed. Whispers filled the air, women gossiping quietly behind their swishing velvet fans. Seated on her throne of black marble set on a dais, the Lady Beryl surveyed her domain with half closed, deceptively sleepy amber eyes.
Bowing deeply, Molly cleared her throat. "High Lady Beryl, ah am Osaka Molly, this is owah newest arrival. Her name's Serena. Serena?"
The smell of nightshade...A thousand years to your rule, Majesty...Majesty?
The girl's blue eyes were vacant and dilated, focused upon Beryl. The High Lady leaned forward, a gleam of unpleasantly vicious curiosity in her eyes. "Strange...do I...know you? Where are you from, girl? Speak up!"
Serena merely stood there, unmoving. Molly prodded her ribs fiercely with her knuckles. "Wake up!" she hissed, eyes wide. "Beryl's talking to you!"
Hair like flame, the tresses burning into her vision. Sharp amber eyes, snake eyes...
With a soundless pop, her sight focused. Starting with surprise at her whereabouts, Serena dropped a hasty curtsy. "A thousand years to your rule...Ma...milady Beryl."
Beryl's eyes narrowed in suspicion, then with a bored flick of her hand she acknowledge the girl and dismissed her. As Serena turned away gratefully, Beryl spoke sharply. "Stop!"
She stopped, then looked back.
The woman's eyes glittered, cold and calculating. "See that my cats recieve the best of care."
Pouring the milk into the cat's saucers, Serena frowned. Somehow she couldn't quite remember a crucial piece of information about this woman...she was sure she had never heard of her before this...right? For the thousandth time since she woke up in the forest, Serena tried to remember back before...before whatever had happened. Nothing. It was as if a blindfold had been placed over her eyes, a veil concealing all sight of her past.
What's going on?
"I hope that when you read this letter, it will not be too much of a shock to you, Ami."
Pacing in the small hospital cubicle, Ryo continued with his eyes closed, the letter tucked back away in his pocket. "Ever since we studied basic trigonometry and battle strategy together, I have always admired your thirst for learning. When the other students teased me about my Martian heritage, you, you were the only one who stood up for me. Sometimes I wonder why."
"And when I had yet another frightening vision of what could possibly be the future, you were always there to listen to me and tell me it was not a reality. You, Ami Mizuno, you were my best friend when we were young. Now what are we?"
He stopped right beside her bed. Her breaths were shallow. Ryo's dark somber eyes scanned over Ami's perfectly formed face, her delicately molded features, the small rosy lips. "Now we are practically adults, you are nineteen and I am twenty two." Ryo forced himself to continue, a flush building in his cheeks. "And things have probably changed for you as they have for me. Now I'm a trusted advisor to your mother, of all things. You are the crown heir to Mercury's throne, and now..." he leaned over. "You are Sailor Mercury, Senshi of Water."
"What are we? We're still friends, I believe. I hope that we are close. I've been thinking lately...what if we were more? Could anything happen between you and I? I apologize...these are foolish questions that really can't be resolved or answered. But I hope that no matter what you think of me for saying this, or even if you have an arranged marriage like most royalty...that you keep me in your heart. I will always be your friend."
Leaning close, he lightly brushed his lips against Ami's forehead. What happened next caused him to stop in his tracks. Ami laughed softly, her face inches away from his.
"Don't worry so much, Ryo. You'll get wrinkles."
His face split in a wide smile. With a start, he felt her cold soft hand reaching up around his neck, pulling him down. He allowed his face to creep even closer to hers. Their eyes never broke their gaze from each other as Ami smiled. "I have been waiting forever for you to say something like that to me. Why did you wait so long?"
"Well," he smiled warmly, "I don't know."
Their warm kiss melted the cool night air, the light from the stars outside dappling the embracing couple with myriads of spacefire.
