FYI: Still don't own Sailor Moon. On the bright side this file is named
smile on my computer.
And no, I don't know where it's all coming from.
~
She made a damn fine Queen though.
In the beginning, some of the stragglers didn't accept her as a leader. She was too young. Without Metallia's backing, the royal blood line was no better then any average commoner. She had no magical or martial training at all. She was raised too human, and she'd never understand the idiosyncrasies of court.
With in a year, she had already done what an entire council of the best remaining Youma couldn't have done in one hundred. Most inspiring, she did all with a hands-on approach that previous Beryl's would have found horribly distasteful, if not just downright offensive. Naru had taken to the magical arts as if she created them herself. In combat her unquestioned bloodlust could chill the heart of all but the bravest or stupidest of opponents. Her court was filled with the wisest and most capable, always trying to find the best ways to do things, while keeping true to the feral nature of the Dark Kingdom.
All in all, she would be remembered as one of the greatest rulers of all time. But this still did not mean she was happy.
That was when the problem started. A widespread belief that a Queen must have a King to rule by her side. And with such young beauty, and so much power at stake, the new Queen had to deal with a great number of suitors on a daily basis.
At first, she was very polite in turning them away. But as tens became hundreds, she began to lash out at the men. Particularly those who had bothered her more often then most. Lucky, being the Dark Kingdom, this too wasn't unexpected, and being the wise and mostly just ruler she was, her personal guard did their best to keep her from killing anyone.
A theory sprung up that she may not 'Swing That Way'. So much that even women joined the hordes of prospective mates. The Queen tolerated no favoritism of any kind, and all suitors, male or female, were allowed their say. All were still turned away though. The hopefully lightly turned away, the annoying a little less lightly turned away. She had found that her afternoon 'courting sessions' were a great way to deal with the stresses of the day, through her suitor's humor, personalities, and often fighting abilities.
Then it got worse. A student of the black arts introduced a lost arcane magic to the country. An illusion simple enough to allow anyone to disguise themselves as "the one that the observer's heart most desires". As anyone who saw the illusion would only see what their own hearts wanted, no one could tell what the Queen would see, but this did not stop the suitors from trying to use it to fool her into agreeing to marriage.
Upon seeing so many visions of her True Love at once, for just a moment her eyes sparkled happily. Anyone seeing this was quite pleased for the Queen rarely smiled anytime other then in battle, and it was considered to be rather cute. Of course upon realizing it was just an illusion, her eyes and heart fell as she let the first of many into her chambers.
Staring straight at the potential's eyes, possibly to avoid seeing the illusion before her, she asked a simple question that only she and her love would know the answer to. "What was the last thing you said to me."
I'll always love you. I'm sorry it didn't work out. Please don't forget me. These were all tried. All these and many more. And all were met with savage, savage beatings. Her guards were being switched hourly after using so much energy from keeping their Queen from killing anyone. Under her own orders of course, but Naru was as well known for her temper as her willingness to solve problems diplomatically. Pleading for her heart was one thing, playing with her heart was another, and she could not hold anything back on her own.
It was the same thing day after day. Soon there were only a devout few would keep trying different parting phrases, with the same results every time. She would always be happy upon seeing them, ask the question the exact same way, and then beat them until her guards had her under control again. Even the most magical in the land could not find out who the Queen saw or what the parting words she so hoped to hear again were.
~
Before:
"So Usagi... I umm... guess I'll see you when... Well, when they let me back in the country. Right?" Naru smiled at her dearest friend, while forcing down her own tears. For once, her entourage of magical girls was missing, and it was just the two of them.
The small airport was almost empty at this time of night. It had been decided that the new Queen Beryl would leave unannounced in the dead of night, avoiding most of the reporters, hate groups, and anyone else that would wish her harm. In fact the only person she had told the place and time was her best friend, and even she was begged to keep it from her own husband.
Usagi just nodded, tears forming in her eyes. Suddenly the blond pulled Naru into a deep hug, whispering into her ear, "I'm sorry Naru... I'm sorry I couldn't save you..."
She made a damn fine Queen though.
In the beginning, some of the stragglers didn't accept her as a leader. She was too young. Without Metallia's backing, the royal blood line was no better then any average commoner. She had no magical or martial training at all. She was raised too human, and she'd never understand the idiosyncrasies of court.
With in a year, she had already done what an entire council of the best remaining Youma couldn't have done in one hundred. Most inspiring, she did all with a hands-on approach that previous Beryl's would have found horribly distasteful, if not just downright offensive. Naru had taken to the magical arts as if she created them herself. In combat her unquestioned bloodlust could chill the heart of all but the bravest or stupidest of opponents. Her court was filled with the wisest and most capable, always trying to find the best ways to do things, while keeping true to the feral nature of the Dark Kingdom.
All in all, she would be remembered as one of the greatest rulers of all time. But this still did not mean she was happy.
That was when the problem started. A widespread belief that a Queen must have a King to rule by her side. And with such young beauty, and so much power at stake, the new Queen had to deal with a great number of suitors on a daily basis.
At first, she was very polite in turning them away. But as tens became hundreds, she began to lash out at the men. Particularly those who had bothered her more often then most. Lucky, being the Dark Kingdom, this too wasn't unexpected, and being the wise and mostly just ruler she was, her personal guard did their best to keep her from killing anyone.
A theory sprung up that she may not 'Swing That Way'. So much that even women joined the hordes of prospective mates. The Queen tolerated no favoritism of any kind, and all suitors, male or female, were allowed their say. All were still turned away though. The hopefully lightly turned away, the annoying a little less lightly turned away. She had found that her afternoon 'courting sessions' were a great way to deal with the stresses of the day, through her suitor's humor, personalities, and often fighting abilities.
Then it got worse. A student of the black arts introduced a lost arcane magic to the country. An illusion simple enough to allow anyone to disguise themselves as "the one that the observer's heart most desires". As anyone who saw the illusion would only see what their own hearts wanted, no one could tell what the Queen would see, but this did not stop the suitors from trying to use it to fool her into agreeing to marriage.
Upon seeing so many visions of her True Love at once, for just a moment her eyes sparkled happily. Anyone seeing this was quite pleased for the Queen rarely smiled anytime other then in battle, and it was considered to be rather cute. Of course upon realizing it was just an illusion, her eyes and heart fell as she let the first of many into her chambers.
Staring straight at the potential's eyes, possibly to avoid seeing the illusion before her, she asked a simple question that only she and her love would know the answer to. "What was the last thing you said to me."
I'll always love you. I'm sorry it didn't work out. Please don't forget me. These were all tried. All these and many more. And all were met with savage, savage beatings. Her guards were being switched hourly after using so much energy from keeping their Queen from killing anyone. Under her own orders of course, but Naru was as well known for her temper as her willingness to solve problems diplomatically. Pleading for her heart was one thing, playing with her heart was another, and she could not hold anything back on her own.
It was the same thing day after day. Soon there were only a devout few would keep trying different parting phrases, with the same results every time. She would always be happy upon seeing them, ask the question the exact same way, and then beat them until her guards had her under control again. Even the most magical in the land could not find out who the Queen saw or what the parting words she so hoped to hear again were.
~
Before:
"So Usagi... I umm... guess I'll see you when... Well, when they let me back in the country. Right?" Naru smiled at her dearest friend, while forcing down her own tears. For once, her entourage of magical girls was missing, and it was just the two of them.
The small airport was almost empty at this time of night. It had been decided that the new Queen Beryl would leave unannounced in the dead of night, avoiding most of the reporters, hate groups, and anyone else that would wish her harm. In fact the only person she had told the place and time was her best friend, and even she was begged to keep it from her own husband.
Usagi just nodded, tears forming in her eyes. Suddenly the blond pulled Naru into a deep hug, whispering into her ear, "I'm sorry Naru... I'm sorry I couldn't save you..."