"NATURE LOVER"

A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic

Chapter 2: "A Blossom's First Bud"

By Bill K.

Six girls traveled down a palace corridor, headed for their classroom. As usual,

Palla-Palla was in the lead and as usual she had a chipper smile on her face. The same could not

be said for all the others.

"Finally with us, Usa?" teased Hotaru.

"Yeah," she sighed. "What'd I miss at breakfast?"

"Just the usual gossip. Nothing important. I was more concerned with you falling asleep

in your meal than anything."

"Leave me alone," grunted Usa. "I hate mornings so much."

"Somebody's grumpy," twittered Hotaru.

"You know, as your princess, I could command you to shut up."

"That's OK," smirked Hotaru. "I'd just make faces at you then."

Ahead of them, Cere-Cere was still in the midst of the conversation she'd been having

with Jun-Jun.

"Please?" she begged.

"I was not put on this Earth to do YOUR homework," Jun-Jun maintained.

"But if I don't have it, then Sensei Mizuno-sama will totally flunk me!"

"Which is the penalty for not doing your homework," Jun-Jun reminded her.

"I can't believe you'd do this to your own sister!" Cere-Cere howled. "I thought we were

supposed to look out for each other!"

"I am looking out for you. I'm trying to protect you from a lifetime of utter stupidity."

Cere-Cere glared.

"You can copy Palla-Palla's homework," Palla-Palla offered.

"Yeah, that'll really help me," Cere-Cere scowled. "You're still learning how to spell

three syllable words."

Palla-Palla stuck out her lower lip.

"Leave her alone," was the low warning emanating from Ves-Ves.

In the past, Cere-Cere might have barked out a retort and an argument would have

erupted. But everyone knew Ves-Ves was trying to control her temper; as such, Cere-Cere just

folded her arms over her chest and emitted a frustrated gust of air. The girls continued on until

they reached their classroom. The door slid open and Ami Mizuno turned to them from the

lectern - - or so it seemed.

"Good morning, everyone," the holographic image of Ami said. "I regret that I'm unable

to teach you in person again this morning."

"Looks like we've got 'teacher-bot' again," mumbled Ves-Ves.

"Good," grinned Cere-Cere. "That means she won't ask for homework."

"Which means you can work on it tonight, right?" prodded Jun-Jun.

"Yeah, right!" chuckled Cere-Cere.

"Unfortunately, my other duties are pressing in on me and I can't spare the time for you

today," the Ami hologram continued. "I'm terribly sorry for this. Please don't be insulted. I'll do

my very best to be here for our next session."

"I think Ami-san's over-extending herself again," Usa whispered to Hotaru.

"She does that a lot, doesn't she," Hotaru nodded. "Maybe I'll stop by after class and try

to help her out."

"Sure you can be away from 'Yutaka' that long?" Usa needled.

"Tell me you're not missing Helios," Hotaru shot back. "If you can do it, I can do it."

Then she got a wicked grin. "After all, I'm a much stronger person than you are."

"Not to mention modest," Usa jabbed back.

"Please engage your tutorial computers, students," the hologram announced. "Your

individual assignments will come up." She scanned the room for a moment. "Palla-Palla, please

put away the coloring program and engage your tutorial computer."

"Yes, ma'am," Palla-Palla said glumly.

- - - -

When "teacher-bot" finally dismissed them, Hotaru gathered up her notes and her

personal computer link. She looked for Usa to wave good-bye, but the pink-tressed princess was

already next to her.

"Got any plans?" Usa asked. "I thought we could study together."

"That would be nice for tonight," Hotaru smiled. "Right now I was going to head over to

Mizuno-san's."

"You were serious about helping her out," Usa smiled.

"Yeah. I'll help her any way I can." Hotaru flushed. "Besides, being around her you can't

help but learn things. She's so smart."

"Got that right," Usa nodded. "OK if I tag along?"

"I don't mind. You don't have anything else to do?"

"I'm the princess. All I have to do is stand around when Mom and Dad entertain and look

adorable."

"Must be tough," Hotaru twittered.

"You have no idea. If I can help out Ami-san, that's way more important than shopping

or holo-games."

Just then Palla-Palla ran up to them.

"Please don't forget about ESP class, Miss Hotaru Ma'am!" she said expectantly.

"Palla-Palla would miss you very much if you weren't there!"

"1630 hours," Hotaru nodded. "I'll be there." Palla-Palla beamed happily, then scurried

off to join Ves-Ves.

"So how are you doing in class?" Usa asked as the two ambled down the corridor. "Able

to lift anything heavier than a ruler yet?"

"I'm up to ten gram weights now," Hotaru replied modestly. "It's no big deal. Sensei says

it's like lifting weights with your hands: the more work you put in, the more weight you can lift."

"I want to be there when you levitate Sensei," Usa grinned.

"I don't seem to be doing very well in controlling my mind bolts, though," Hotaru

confessed. "They only seem to come when I don't want them to come - - or like now, they're

starting to go in the wrong direction. I tried to throw one yesterday and I hit poor Asuma. He

was sitting behind me, just minding his own business!"

"Is he all right?"

"Yes. No thanks to me."

Usa put her arm on Hotaru's shoulder.

"You'll get it," Usa told her. "You can do anything you want if you just keep trying."

The pair stopped at the door to Ami's office and waited for the computerized door

controls to recognize them. The door opened, indicating Ami wasn't in a private conference.

Inside, they found Ami sitting in a chair, surrounded by holographic reports on all sides of her, as

well as two holographic vital sign readouts. On the right, Michiru was undergoing painful

electric stimulus of her leg muscles as she worked them lifting weights on a cybernetically

enhanced table. The woman was grimacing in pain, but didn't cry out. On the left was another

patient - - Usa recognized her as one of the cooks from the dining hall - - who was four months

pregnant and undergoing a medical scan.

"Give me a moment, girls, please," Ami said absently, trying to divide her attention

between two reports and the vital sign monitors for both her patients.

"Michiru-Mama, are you all right?" Hotaru asked.

"Just," Michiru hissed between clenched teeth, "trying to get my legs to work right again.

Don't be scared - - nnngh - - if I make faces at you."

"It's a painful process, Hotaru," Ami mumbled, continuing to multi-task. "But the benefit

will outweigh the discomfort." Ami's face suddenly screwed up. "Oh, drat it! That wasn't what I

wanted to indicate! Now I'll have to begin this report again."

"Mizuno-san?" Hotaru ventured. "You seem awful busy. Is there anything I can do to

help?"

Ami looked up from her myriad reports, surprised by what Hotaru asked.

"Yeah, this is the third class out of the last five you've missed," Usa added. "And you

look like you're trying to do fifteen things at once."

"Actually it's only eight," Ami offered lamely.

"Pardon me for saying so, but I think you're trying to do too many things," Hotaru said.

"Yeah, when was the last time you had a nice quiet evening with Makoto-san anyway?"

Usa added.

"Um, Tuesday," Ami replied with chagrin, "last week."

"Classic workaholic syndrome," clucked Michiru.

"Don't waste your energy with useless talk, please," Ami reprimanded. "Girls, I'm sorry

about missing class, but I have a great deal of responsibility."

"We're not worried about class," Usa argued. "We're worried about you."

"We want to help out," Hotaru told her. "Please let us. Even if it's only menial tasks like

filing and downloading, if you don't have to do it, it'll give you more time for important things."

"Or a few minutes to catch your breath," Usa added.

Ami sighed in frustration. "It's very kind of you to offer, but I don't want to take you

away from your lives."

"Ami-san, I'm already wasting half my life now," Usa countered. "A princess doesn't do

anything!"

"And I'd really learn a lot just watching you work," Hotaru pleaded. "Please, Mizuno-san,

let us help you!"

"Working yourself down to nothing isn't proof of how smart you are," Michiru added.

"Go ahead and let them help you, Mizuno-sensei," the pregnant woman added.

Ami scowled.

"Well, if you're all going to gang up on me," she huffed, then broke into a smile, "I guess

I'll have to agree."

"Thank you, Mizuno-san," Hotaru beamed.

"But let's get one thing straight," Ami said sternly. "If you're going to work here, I'm

Ami."

Hotaru beamed broadly.

- - - -

The room was Endymion's inner computer and monitor room, a complex warren of visual

monitors receiving signals from robot observation drones and cameras that blanketed Crystal

Tokyo, and the computers that stored these recordings and provided access to them. He sat there

as he often sat there, away from everyone, watching over the city like a lone sentinel. Different

images flickered on screens, seen only peripherally by the king. He sat, index fingered steepled

to his mouth and his thick black hair tossed across his forehead just above his eyes. His pastel

gray jacket was off, strewn across a far table, but the rest of his tuxedo uniform was intact.

One image on his bank of screens caught his attention. Ves-Ves had entered the corridor

from her classroom, followed closely by Palla-Palla. As the girl passed from one camera to

another, Endymion would adjust his readouts, keeping her movements before him at all times.

He continued to follow her until she disappeared into her residence quarters in the palace. Only

then did the king relax.

"Endymion," he heard Serenity sigh behind him. Casually he turned his chair to her.

"How long do you intend to monitor that girl's every movement?"

"Until I'm convinced she's not a threat," he replied, gently but firmly.

"Endymion, she's sorry she attacked Usa."

"Remorse is a good first step," Endymion replied, "but it's not a journey's end."

"She was under duress," Serenity pleaded with him. "She reacted without thinking."

"We've been over this and over this. She has special abilities. She can't react without

thinking. It's too dangerous."

Serenity knelt at his feet. "Endymion, she's fifteen. Surely you remember how you were

at fifteen?"

"I didn't lose control at fifteen."

"No, you were so completely in control you were liable to break from the strain," Serenity

teased. "At least that's how you were at eighteen. I can only imagine what you were like at

fifteen." She perched her chin on his knee. "Teenagers think with their hearts. They don't

always mean what they do. You can't just judge their actions. You have to look into their hearts,

too."

"Serenity, she tried to kill our daughter."

"I know. And our daughter once tried to kill me. And you once tried to kill me. But Usa

was brainwashed into being Black Lady. And you were under Beryl's control when you attacked

me. Ves-Ves was under another's control, too. She was under the control of her own fear and

the anger it inspires in her. She's not a bad person, Endymion. We have to look into her heart

and forgive her or she'll never become all that she can become."

Endymion caressed his wife's cheek.

"I do forgive her, because I realize she didn't mean it," Endymion replied. "I know she

thought she was attacking Echidna. I forgive her. I just can't trust her yet."

"Trust is a product of forgiveness," Serenity told him. "If you don't have it, you haven't

really forgiven her."

"Serenity," he sighed. "It's so easy for you, easier than any of the rest of us. You believe

so readily in the inner goodness of people. I want to do that, too. But I keep seeing our child

facing those ravenous jaws and my first instinct is to protect her, not to forgive her attacker. It's

the same way I feel whenever you're in danger or, to a lesser extent, this city. Perhaps I should be

more forgiving, more understanding. But if I do relax my guard for even an instant, and it results

in my losing you or little Usagi or both of you, I couldn't forgive myself. You and Usagi are the

most important things in my life. And if protecting you means hurting someone like Ves-Ves,

well I'm sorry but it can't be helped. I will not ignore a threat to either of you - - no matter what."

Serenity caressed his calf as she held his legs.

"Poor Endymion," she whispered. "I've been so concerned with Ves-Ves and Usa that I

haven't considered your side. I don't mean to slight your feelings. I do appreciate how much you

love me and love our daughter. Being the guardian isn't easy, is it?"

"It has its benefits," Endymion said, stroking his wife's golden hair. "I want to believe

Ves-Ves can turn herself around. But she has to show me."

"She will," Serenity replied, her head resting on Endymion's knee. Endymion continued

to stroke her hair.

- - - -

She should be doing her homework. Cere-Cere, though, just couldn't muster the

discipline to do so. It was too nice a day and the garden was blooming. Though Spring was the

hardest time to concentrate on anything and always had been, late summer was almost as bad.

The heat of the summer couldn't completely beat down the scents the flora excreted.. The scents

and songs of the flora were just too strong. Cere-Cere crouched down and softly caressed a patch

of violets. They sang out to her in appreciation, filling her with their celebration of her presence

and her attention. The sun was high in the sky and filled the garden with light and warmth. The

girl rose to her feet and stretched up toward the sun, just as the flowers did. Her bared midriff's

creamy skin seemed to gleam in the sunlight and she threatened to burst from the synthetic

short-sleeve top she wore.

"I don't want to do my homework," she pouted to herself. "But Jun-Jun will probably

have a stroke if I don't. I wish she'd find a guy so she'd get off my back."

Cere-Cere turned - - and found someone behind her. Startled, she backed up a pace, but

the stranger placidly stood his ground.

"Hello," he smiled.

He was a slim, wiry male, looking about her age. His build was long and sleek with

smooth pale skin draped over his still maturing body. Thick brown hair adorned his head,

combed to the side almost audaciously. He had penetrating brown eyes and a pretty rather than

handsome mouth cocked in a smile. His was a face that was a collage of soft emerging

masculinity and boyish playfulness. It was a look that might make some think he was a threat - -

and others imagine he could be very exciting.

The only unusual thing about him to the casual observer was his complete nakedness.

"How long have you been there?" Cere-Cere asked when she found her voice.

"In this spot? Only a few moments," he replied easily. "I'm Gallan."

"Um, Cere-Cere," she replied, sensing his lack of ill intentions.

"That's a beautiful name," he smiled, clearly enchanted by her. "It suits you."

"Do you live near the palace?" Cere-Cere inquired.

"Yes," Gallan nodded, pleased she was willing to talk to him. "I've noticed you in the

gardens and the groves. I really think you're very beautiful and you're so kind to the flowers. I-I

kind of wanted to meet you."

"You did?" Cere-Cere smiled. The girl felt suddenly flattered by the attention.

Ves-Ves walked through the garden intent upon her mission. The study session Jun-Jun

had set up for the three of them - - timed for when their sister was in ESP class so Palla-Palla

wouldn't incessantly bother them with her need for constant attention - - had arrived and

Cere-Cere was late. Ves-Ves had been dispatched to this side of the palace to find her.

The beautiful flowers meant nothing to Ves-Ves. Flowers were irrelevant in her life. She

couldn't understand why Cere-Cere had such a passion for them. Animals, on the other hand,

were fascinating. They were going to get into zoology next semester and Ves-Ves couldn't wait.

That was worth studying, not a bunch of flowers. But you couldn't tell that to prissy little

Cere-Cere.

Honestly, she loved her sister, but the girl could be such an airhead about what was

important in life.

Pushing between two sunflowers that were six and a half feet in the air, their faces burst

full and their seeds ripening, Ves-Ves spotted Cere-Cere. She was about to go charging over and

scold the girl, dragging her back to the palace by her rings of hair if need be. But she stopped

when she realized what Cere-Cere was doing. The entire scene seemed unusual to Ves-Ves.

What had she stumbled onto? Fascinated by what transpired, Ves-Ves stood between the

sunflowers and watched her sister for the longest time. Cere-Cere seemed happily chatting away,

her arms coyly behind her back and her posture curved to be seductive without being forward.

She chatted gaily, giggling intermittently.

"Is she crazy?" Ves-Ves wondered.

Finally she shook off her surprise and headed for her sister. Cere-Cere was oblivious to

her approach until Ves-Ves reached her and grasped the girl by the shoulder. Cere-Cere turned

with a start.

"What are you doing?" Ves-Ves demanded rudely to the only person she saw. "Talking to

yourself?"

Cere-Cere glanced to her right momentarily.

"What if I am?" Cere-Cere replied defensively. "What business is it of yours?"

"What are you, nuts?" Ves-Ves asked. Cere-Cere ground her teeth.

"Oh, you're the LAST person who should be casting aspersions like that!" Cere-Cere

huffed and stalked off.

Ves-Ves looked around, just in case there was a mouse or something she hadn't seen - -

hey, if Palla-Palla could talk to rodents, why not Cere-Cere? But there was nothing there save a

patch of violets and some trees further down the path. Utterly confused, Ves-Ves shook her head

and stormed back to the palace.

Continued in Chapter 3