Calethos Verilain Blacksworth
"Second Pase- When Purple Clashes with Pink"
Chapter 6: To Collect One that Does not Belong to Oneself
Re-edited June 2nd, 2004
Earlier-
In a sudden burst of colored light, the Gates of Time swung open and admitted one exhausted lady and one tireless lady. One wore a sailor uniform colored in the standard of her planet, Pluto. The other wore a simple dress that did nothing to accent her already gorgeous features, but instead highlighted them well. Anyone would know from looking at her that she was a woman of great breeding, gentleness, and wealth. She stood next to the one called Sailor Pluto and wiped away the fatigue from her eyes. "Sailor Pluto?" she asked quietly, "is this another stop, or are we home yet?"
"Home, Small Lady. I've brought you home."
"Thank you," she said with a slight yawn.
"You're welcome. Why don't you get some sleep," suggested the older woman.
"Yeah. Sure."
"Goodnight, Small Lady."
"G'night, Setsuna-san." Too tired to notice the old nickname, Chibiusa walked toward the large gates of the castle that forebode anyone from entering into the courtyard and opened them slightly.
She walked inside and they closed themselves behind her.
----------
Chibiusa arrived to a quiet bedroom. It was covered in grays with dabs of pink around the edges. A large mirrored window opened up to her the outside world - a gray-white moon with a small city around the palace where she grew up - and allowed nobody to peek inside the bedroom at the young woman. She stared out over the city, across the vast gray-white plains and craters, and she looked toward the black. The Earth was to her right as she looked out, the sun to her left.
Before she had gone into the past, the city seemed enough. The sands of Luna were beautiful, awe-inspiring. But every time she had gone and come back, Luna seemed to be more desolate. The city was the only one on its face, and it was only because of the Silver Crystal Palace that humans lived on any of the moon to begin with. Crystal Tokyo had once been a dream city, but the dream seemed empty, fulfilled and yet nothing about it seemed real. Crystal Tokyo seemed to have become lonely. If only there were other cities or towns, other places on Luna human beings could live. Science could have easily made it possible, but the Queen didn't want to scar the land any more than this.
Perhaps, after the ceremony, Chibiusa would ask her mother to begin colonies so that the moon wouldn't seem so lonesome.
----------
Now-
The woman wore an elegant gray-white gown with a tinge of purple at its fringes. It covered her like light covers the land in the morning, laying down itself where it can reach, and making shadows where it can't. She lay on the floor, passed out with anxiety and worry. She didn't know what to think or what to say, and her first reaction took away the freedom of choice that she had.
Hotaru hovered over Chibiusa for a moment, then took the ring that lay set in the younger girl's hand like a priceless gem clutched by earth, and put it on her own ring finger. Her glove lie crumpled next to the young girl's form to make way for the ring. Hotaru put her hands under Chibiusa's body and picked her up. Though she did not look strong enough to pick up her goblet from the table, she held the younger girl with ease in the air. "I'll put her to bed," she announced. She looked toward the royal couple at the head of the table with mixed feelings, showing in her eyes. She was sad and proud, and they saw it. They nodded, worriedly, and Hotaru turned to take Chibiusa away.
"Hotaru," called the Queen, "wait." Hotaru turned. She saw the Queen's eyes full of tears, just out of reach. A moment she waited with Chibiusa in her arms. "I'll talk to you later. About- about..." She choked. Hotaru bowed slightly over her burden. The Queen dismissed Hotaru and Chibiusa with a wave. Hotaru left the dining hall.
------------
Earlier than Now, but later the Earlier-
A knock on her door is what woke Chibiusa up. She looked around for a moment, bleary-eyed, startled, and then wiped away the sleep. She noticed by the clock that it was daytime. The knock came again. "Who is it?" she called out to the door.
"Crystal," came the answer. "I have been told to help you get ready for a party tonight. Your mother and father want to celebrate your homecoming."
Chibiusa sighed. "Come in," she called. And in Crystal came.
"What kind of dress would you like? It is to be an informal formal occasion." Crystal looked around the room and smiled. She touched what she could touch that didn't look too expensive. "You have fine tastes, Princess," she declared while the princess was in deliberation.
"Why does my mother have to throw a party?" she asked.
"She missed you, and this is her overly elaborate way of showing it." She sighed. Crystal wished her mother had been able to give her even a small birthday party when she was younger. "What kind of dress would you like?" she repeated.
"Something that's doesn't 'enhance' my physical attributes," Chibiusa sighed. "Something dull," she said, "but with a small bit of flair," she added after a moment's thought.
"I don't know of any dress that wouldn't enhance your beauty, Princess," claimed Crystal.
With a suddenly serious tone, Chibiusa said firmly, "I want to hear the truth, Crystal-san, right now. I know that there is no dress that wouldn't be able to enhance my mother's beauty in some distinct way, but my body is different. I don't have the same beauty of my mother."
Crystal looked around Chibiusa's face to see if there were any more comedies left on it anywhere. She found none. Instead, she found a serious young woman, something that had rarely been seen from even the Queen, and it suddenly frightened her how she must look to the princess' eyes. The face the princess made, though gentle in nature and touch, though it wasn't meant to frighten, scared Crystal. Chibiusa looked ready to act upon whatever instinct she had, and nobody would have been able to read the instinct from her face. "Princess," she said warily, "I honestly do not believe such a dress exists. I can look into some of the servants' personal collections, but I do not think there exists a dress that does not suit you."
The momentary look of supreme seriousness dropped from Chibiusa's face. "Alright, then." Crystal inwardly sighed. "How about a simple gray dress?"
"Gray, milady?"
"Gray, like the moon is gray."
"You said dull. I suppose gray would be a bit dull. But you also said a bit of flair as well." Crystal put a finger to the side of her head in thought. "How about it being gray-white, like an ashen bride?"
"It seems too... complicated," she said after a moment. "A gray-white dress would be fine, Crystal-san. But I don't want to look like a bride."
Crystal put down a stool and stood on it. She dropped down the end of a seamstress's measuring tape. "Hold that down with your little toe," she said. "If I am going to find this perfect dress for you, I must know your measurements. All your friends are going to be there. Tenou-san, Meiou-san, Hino-san, Kino-san, and Tomoe-san. They'll all be there, along with..." Chibiusa didn't hear the rest.
"Loose fitting, with no wires or bust. I don't need all the extras. Something simple will do," she said quietly. She held down the end of the tape. "With a purple fringe, if possible," she said as an afterthought.
"That sounds nice," Crystal said absentmindedly. She crawled off the stool and took the other measurements around Chibiusa's body. She finished. "I'll be back in a few hours with your dress, Princess."
"Thank you, Crystal-san."
"You're very welcome. I'll have breakfast sent to you straight away."
"Thank you."
Crystal opened the door. She picked up a pot on the table next to the door. "Very fine taste indeed," she said while turning it around and over. She put the pot down and left the room.
----------
Hotaru opened the door to Chibiusa's room. She almost gasped, but she realized that if she had, she might have dropped her precious cargo. She walked to Chibiusa's bed and lay her down. She closed the door to Chibiusa's room to give them some privacy. Hotaru went back to the bed and sat down next to Chibiusa's sleeping form. For a moment, Hotaru sat staring at Chibiusa, noticing the
peacefulness of her slumber as she barely breathed in, at how her skin showed goose bumps because of the coolness of the bedroom. She stood and took in all of the young woman's appearance. The dress made her look stunning, more stunning that she ever could have imagined. But it was made of a thin material, and it made her look cold. Hotaru frowned.
She looked toward the door, and then back at Chibiusa. She looked around the ceiling for what might have been recording devices that look in on the Princess while she slept. She found none. She walked to the dresser and opened a drawer, and then another drawer, and then another in an attempt to find a nightgown. Once Hotaru found one, she brought it back to Chibiusa's bed and undressed her. She pulled slowly Chibiusa's arms out of the puffy shoulder-sleeves, and then pulled the dress slowly above the younger's head. Chibiusa lay clad in panties and bra, shivering.
Hotaru moved much more quickly as she noticed that Chibiusa had winced. She slipped the thick nightgown onto the young woman's body and noticed the shiver lessen. She pulled slightly the large comforter back from Chibiusa's bed, trying to get Chibiusa from on top of it without waking her. A squeak came from the pink-haired young woman which made Hotaru stop, but then she noticed the princess was still asleep and continued.
Finally, the covers were put over Chibiusa. Hotaru stepped away and took in her handiwork. She nodded and grabbed the dress. Walking away, she smiled to herself. She had a good feeling about them, and put the dress on the dresser. She closed the drawers and moved to the other side of the room to exit. She turned toward Chibiusa's gracefully sleeping face and blew a kiss. After, Hotaru turned and opened the door of the bedroom. She stepped outside and closed the door.
Hotaru's hand went to her heart, where she could feel the drumming of it in her chest, beating out bass rapid-fire. She collapsed by Chibiusa's door, feeling her own heartbeat. "I need to start working out," she said exhaustedly.
A troop of girls came toward Chibiusa's bedroom. Hotaru noticed them as they turned the corner. It was the four Inner Solar System Sailor Senshi that had protected the Queen so long ago. They saw Hotaru sitting at Chibiusa's door almost panting. Hotaru rose. "Hotaru-chan," asked Ami, "What's going on?"
"I put Usa-chan to bed." Hotaru walked to the four girls. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Usa-chan?" came Rei.
"Why are you wearing her ring?" asked Makoto.
"We are engaged. That is why."
"What?" yelled Makoto.
"Be quiet!" Hotaru whispered loudly. "I just put her to bed. She doesn't need to be woken up over this."
"How could you?"
"This is what she was afraid of. She was afraid you would be angry with her. And now I know you are." The four hung their heads.
"It's not that," said Ami, "it's just that it's so unexpected. I thought... But what about Helios?"
"They were and still are very good friends," Hotaru answered. She was ready for whatever line of questioning they could give.
"Are you going to protect her?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to give your life for her?"
"Absolutely."
"When's the wedding?" chirped Minako soberly.
"I don't know yet. We'll figure that out later," Hotaru said. "You guys are starting to act like a bunch of reporters. Are you planning on selling any of this to the media?"
"Hell no!" said Rei quickly.
Hotaru suggested they move the group somewhere else so they wouldn't disturb Chibiusa.
A few moments later a ship appeared outside Chibiusa's window. It destroyed the mirrored glass. People inside took the Princess of The White Moon Kingdom of Luna. Sailor Saturn could be seen screaming with four girls dragging her back inside the Princess' room with the air leaking out.
"Second Pase- When Purple Clashes with Pink"
Chapter 6: To Collect One that Does not Belong to Oneself
Re-edited June 2nd, 2004
Earlier-
In a sudden burst of colored light, the Gates of Time swung open and admitted one exhausted lady and one tireless lady. One wore a sailor uniform colored in the standard of her planet, Pluto. The other wore a simple dress that did nothing to accent her already gorgeous features, but instead highlighted them well. Anyone would know from looking at her that she was a woman of great breeding, gentleness, and wealth. She stood next to the one called Sailor Pluto and wiped away the fatigue from her eyes. "Sailor Pluto?" she asked quietly, "is this another stop, or are we home yet?"
"Home, Small Lady. I've brought you home."
"Thank you," she said with a slight yawn.
"You're welcome. Why don't you get some sleep," suggested the older woman.
"Yeah. Sure."
"Goodnight, Small Lady."
"G'night, Setsuna-san." Too tired to notice the old nickname, Chibiusa walked toward the large gates of the castle that forebode anyone from entering into the courtyard and opened them slightly.
She walked inside and they closed themselves behind her.
----------
Chibiusa arrived to a quiet bedroom. It was covered in grays with dabs of pink around the edges. A large mirrored window opened up to her the outside world - a gray-white moon with a small city around the palace where she grew up - and allowed nobody to peek inside the bedroom at the young woman. She stared out over the city, across the vast gray-white plains and craters, and she looked toward the black. The Earth was to her right as she looked out, the sun to her left.
Before she had gone into the past, the city seemed enough. The sands of Luna were beautiful, awe-inspiring. But every time she had gone and come back, Luna seemed to be more desolate. The city was the only one on its face, and it was only because of the Silver Crystal Palace that humans lived on any of the moon to begin with. Crystal Tokyo had once been a dream city, but the dream seemed empty, fulfilled and yet nothing about it seemed real. Crystal Tokyo seemed to have become lonely. If only there were other cities or towns, other places on Luna human beings could live. Science could have easily made it possible, but the Queen didn't want to scar the land any more than this.
Perhaps, after the ceremony, Chibiusa would ask her mother to begin colonies so that the moon wouldn't seem so lonesome.
----------
Now-
The woman wore an elegant gray-white gown with a tinge of purple at its fringes. It covered her like light covers the land in the morning, laying down itself where it can reach, and making shadows where it can't. She lay on the floor, passed out with anxiety and worry. She didn't know what to think or what to say, and her first reaction took away the freedom of choice that she had.
Hotaru hovered over Chibiusa for a moment, then took the ring that lay set in the younger girl's hand like a priceless gem clutched by earth, and put it on her own ring finger. Her glove lie crumpled next to the young girl's form to make way for the ring. Hotaru put her hands under Chibiusa's body and picked her up. Though she did not look strong enough to pick up her goblet from the table, she held the younger girl with ease in the air. "I'll put her to bed," she announced. She looked toward the royal couple at the head of the table with mixed feelings, showing in her eyes. She was sad and proud, and they saw it. They nodded, worriedly, and Hotaru turned to take Chibiusa away.
"Hotaru," called the Queen, "wait." Hotaru turned. She saw the Queen's eyes full of tears, just out of reach. A moment she waited with Chibiusa in her arms. "I'll talk to you later. About- about..." She choked. Hotaru bowed slightly over her burden. The Queen dismissed Hotaru and Chibiusa with a wave. Hotaru left the dining hall.
------------
Earlier than Now, but later the Earlier-
A knock on her door is what woke Chibiusa up. She looked around for a moment, bleary-eyed, startled, and then wiped away the sleep. She noticed by the clock that it was daytime. The knock came again. "Who is it?" she called out to the door.
"Crystal," came the answer. "I have been told to help you get ready for a party tonight. Your mother and father want to celebrate your homecoming."
Chibiusa sighed. "Come in," she called. And in Crystal came.
"What kind of dress would you like? It is to be an informal formal occasion." Crystal looked around the room and smiled. She touched what she could touch that didn't look too expensive. "You have fine tastes, Princess," she declared while the princess was in deliberation.
"Why does my mother have to throw a party?" she asked.
"She missed you, and this is her overly elaborate way of showing it." She sighed. Crystal wished her mother had been able to give her even a small birthday party when she was younger. "What kind of dress would you like?" she repeated.
"Something that's doesn't 'enhance' my physical attributes," Chibiusa sighed. "Something dull," she said, "but with a small bit of flair," she added after a moment's thought.
"I don't know of any dress that wouldn't enhance your beauty, Princess," claimed Crystal.
With a suddenly serious tone, Chibiusa said firmly, "I want to hear the truth, Crystal-san, right now. I know that there is no dress that wouldn't be able to enhance my mother's beauty in some distinct way, but my body is different. I don't have the same beauty of my mother."
Crystal looked around Chibiusa's face to see if there were any more comedies left on it anywhere. She found none. Instead, she found a serious young woman, something that had rarely been seen from even the Queen, and it suddenly frightened her how she must look to the princess' eyes. The face the princess made, though gentle in nature and touch, though it wasn't meant to frighten, scared Crystal. Chibiusa looked ready to act upon whatever instinct she had, and nobody would have been able to read the instinct from her face. "Princess," she said warily, "I honestly do not believe such a dress exists. I can look into some of the servants' personal collections, but I do not think there exists a dress that does not suit you."
The momentary look of supreme seriousness dropped from Chibiusa's face. "Alright, then." Crystal inwardly sighed. "How about a simple gray dress?"
"Gray, milady?"
"Gray, like the moon is gray."
"You said dull. I suppose gray would be a bit dull. But you also said a bit of flair as well." Crystal put a finger to the side of her head in thought. "How about it being gray-white, like an ashen bride?"
"It seems too... complicated," she said after a moment. "A gray-white dress would be fine, Crystal-san. But I don't want to look like a bride."
Crystal put down a stool and stood on it. She dropped down the end of a seamstress's measuring tape. "Hold that down with your little toe," she said. "If I am going to find this perfect dress for you, I must know your measurements. All your friends are going to be there. Tenou-san, Meiou-san, Hino-san, Kino-san, and Tomoe-san. They'll all be there, along with..." Chibiusa didn't hear the rest.
"Loose fitting, with no wires or bust. I don't need all the extras. Something simple will do," she said quietly. She held down the end of the tape. "With a purple fringe, if possible," she said as an afterthought.
"That sounds nice," Crystal said absentmindedly. She crawled off the stool and took the other measurements around Chibiusa's body. She finished. "I'll be back in a few hours with your dress, Princess."
"Thank you, Crystal-san."
"You're very welcome. I'll have breakfast sent to you straight away."
"Thank you."
Crystal opened the door. She picked up a pot on the table next to the door. "Very fine taste indeed," she said while turning it around and over. She put the pot down and left the room.
----------
Hotaru opened the door to Chibiusa's room. She almost gasped, but she realized that if she had, she might have dropped her precious cargo. She walked to Chibiusa's bed and lay her down. She closed the door to Chibiusa's room to give them some privacy. Hotaru went back to the bed and sat down next to Chibiusa's sleeping form. For a moment, Hotaru sat staring at Chibiusa, noticing the
peacefulness of her slumber as she barely breathed in, at how her skin showed goose bumps because of the coolness of the bedroom. She stood and took in all of the young woman's appearance. The dress made her look stunning, more stunning that she ever could have imagined. But it was made of a thin material, and it made her look cold. Hotaru frowned.
She looked toward the door, and then back at Chibiusa. She looked around the ceiling for what might have been recording devices that look in on the Princess while she slept. She found none. She walked to the dresser and opened a drawer, and then another drawer, and then another in an attempt to find a nightgown. Once Hotaru found one, she brought it back to Chibiusa's bed and undressed her. She pulled slowly Chibiusa's arms out of the puffy shoulder-sleeves, and then pulled the dress slowly above the younger's head. Chibiusa lay clad in panties and bra, shivering.
Hotaru moved much more quickly as she noticed that Chibiusa had winced. She slipped the thick nightgown onto the young woman's body and noticed the shiver lessen. She pulled slightly the large comforter back from Chibiusa's bed, trying to get Chibiusa from on top of it without waking her. A squeak came from the pink-haired young woman which made Hotaru stop, but then she noticed the princess was still asleep and continued.
Finally, the covers were put over Chibiusa. Hotaru stepped away and took in her handiwork. She nodded and grabbed the dress. Walking away, she smiled to herself. She had a good feeling about them, and put the dress on the dresser. She closed the drawers and moved to the other side of the room to exit. She turned toward Chibiusa's gracefully sleeping face and blew a kiss. After, Hotaru turned and opened the door of the bedroom. She stepped outside and closed the door.
Hotaru's hand went to her heart, where she could feel the drumming of it in her chest, beating out bass rapid-fire. She collapsed by Chibiusa's door, feeling her own heartbeat. "I need to start working out," she said exhaustedly.
A troop of girls came toward Chibiusa's bedroom. Hotaru noticed them as they turned the corner. It was the four Inner Solar System Sailor Senshi that had protected the Queen so long ago. They saw Hotaru sitting at Chibiusa's door almost panting. Hotaru rose. "Hotaru-chan," asked Ami, "What's going on?"
"I put Usa-chan to bed." Hotaru walked to the four girls. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Usa-chan?" came Rei.
"Why are you wearing her ring?" asked Makoto.
"We are engaged. That is why."
"What?" yelled Makoto.
"Be quiet!" Hotaru whispered loudly. "I just put her to bed. She doesn't need to be woken up over this."
"How could you?"
"This is what she was afraid of. She was afraid you would be angry with her. And now I know you are." The four hung their heads.
"It's not that," said Ami, "it's just that it's so unexpected. I thought... But what about Helios?"
"They were and still are very good friends," Hotaru answered. She was ready for whatever line of questioning they could give.
"Are you going to protect her?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to give your life for her?"
"Absolutely."
"When's the wedding?" chirped Minako soberly.
"I don't know yet. We'll figure that out later," Hotaru said. "You guys are starting to act like a bunch of reporters. Are you planning on selling any of this to the media?"
"Hell no!" said Rei quickly.
Hotaru suggested they move the group somewhere else so they wouldn't disturb Chibiusa.
A few moments later a ship appeared outside Chibiusa's window. It destroyed the mirrored glass. People inside took the Princess of The White Moon Kingdom of Luna. Sailor Saturn could be seen screaming with four girls dragging her back inside the Princess' room with the air leaking out.