Chapter 24: The Redeans' Past
Rodo turned to Endymion, "So Endymion, what has Serenity told you about us?"
"Nothing bad, I hope," Ralcea joked.
The others all laughed. 'If they only knew' Endymion thought to himself. Aloud he said, "Not that much really. We didn't have much time to talk, having to escape the Sailor Brats and all."
Ralcea nodded, "Then I'm sure you must have many questions about us. Why don't we get some of those out of the way?"
"Alright," Endymion agreed. "To start off with, why are you helping us solve our pesky Sailor problem?" This started the King and Queen on their explanation of what happened during the Silver Millennium. Endymion was impressed at how well they twisted the facts. "Ah, so you just wanted to make friends with you neighbors. That is very noble of you," Endymion complimented. "Next, if you don't mind me asking, I would like to know more about your planet and people."
Serenity now turned to her adopted parents, "Yes, please tell us about Redicea. You've never gotten the chance to tell me that much about it either."
"That's true," Rodo recalled, "And it's only natural that you would want to know about your new empire. For it truly is an empire, though it started with the planet Redicea. However, long ago our ancestors started to notice that some of our neighboring kingdoms were in need of help. They were ruled by, shall we say, unfit rulers. Kings and Queens who cared more for themselves then their people. It was three thousand years ago when my grandfather decided to start helping his neighboring kingdoms."
"You must understand children, that he did not set out to concur these kingdoms, simply to help them," Ralcea explained. "It was just that the people of the kingdoms would have it no other way but to join the Redean empire."
"Three thousand years ago, your grandfather started to help?" Molly gasped. "You really do live for a long time, don't you?"
"The average life span of a Redean is alittle over a thousand years," Rodo commented.
"But wait a minute," Melvin interrupted. "If you live for a thousand years, and the Silver Millennium was a thousand years ago, then that means..."
"Yes, Rodo and I are reaching the end of our life span," Ralcea admitted. "Now you can see why we wanted to adopted Princess Serenity as our heir. We wanted someone to rule when we are gone."
Serenity couldn't stop herself, she ran to Queen Ralcea crying, "I don't want you to die! We've hardly had anytime together."
Ralcea smoothed Serenity's hair, "There, there darling. It's not like we are going to die tomorrow. We still have a few good decades left in us. Don't worry." Serenity continued to cry. Ralcea turned to Endymion. "Why don't you take her into the gardens and see if you can't calm her down?"
Endymion rose, "Certainly, my Queen. Come Serenity, everything will be alright." Endymion led Serenity away, she was still crying softly.
When they reached the garden Serenity had quieted her crying to just a few sobs. Endymion put his arm around her waist and looked at her, "You know, you did a really nice job in there. I could swear that you really didn't want Queen Ralcea to die."
Serenity looked at Endymion surprise written all over her face, "Of course I don't."
"But she is your enemy. She took you away from us, away from me," Endymion insisted. "If she is going to die then we know we will be rid of her for good."
"But don't you see?" Serenity demanded. "It's the whole reason we're even here right now. I like them, especially Ralcea. In some ways she really does feel like my mother." Endymion opened his mouth in surprise and shock. "She will never, ever be able to replace Queen Serenity, don't get the wrong idea. But I really do think that Queen Ralcea does love me, like I am her daughter." Serenity turned away, trying to find words to explain how she felt. "Oh, I don't know how to explain it. I just don't want to see them die."
Endymion made Serenity turn back to him, "I understand. They are beginning to feel like your family. Don't worry, we'll find a way to help them." He pulled Serenity close and kissed her. Then they walked through the gardens, just as they had done so many times all those years ago.
After their walk, Endymion and Serenity returned to their bedchamber. They wanted to tell the scouts what they had learned, but weren't sure they could go back to Tokyo and not be missed.
Just as they were trying to find a solution to the problem Molly and Melvin arrived. "The King and Queen want to see you," Molly announced.
"Do you know why?" Serenity asked.
Molly and Melvin shook their heads. "They just told us to find you two," Melvin explained. So they are headed for the throne room.
They entered, and greeted the King and Queen as usual. "So you asked to see us?" Serenity said.
"Yes. Well, now that your first attempt to cure the people of Earth has failed, we believe you should return to just observing," Rodo explained.
"We don't want the scouts to get their hold back on the people while you are gone," Ralcea continued. "But we know that both of you must rest before using your crystals again."
"I see. So you want us to go back as normal people. Just trying to cheer everyone up," Serenity summed up. "I think that is an excellent idea."
"Yes, I was getting worried about what the scouts are up to myself," Endymion commented.
"Good, so you four go back to Tokyo. When Serenity and Endymion are ready to use their crystals again, come back and we will make a new plan," Rodo ordered.
"Yes, your majesty," Molly, Melvin, Serenity and Endymion said together. They bowed and left. When they were away from the throne room Serenity started to giggle,
"What is it Serenity?" Molly asked.
"Well, they just gave us the perfect way to tell the scouts what we discovered," Serenity giggled. "And they don't even know it."
They returned to Serenity's bedchamber, were they changed into their "Tokyo cloths." Then they went through the mirror and were back in the apartment in Tokyo. They ran down the hall to Darien's and Bunny's place.
"Hi Pearl! We're back!" Bunny shouted when she opened the door.
Pearl and Luna came running. "You're back! You're back!" Pearl kept shouting.
"You were only gone for a day," Luna pointed out. "Did you learn anything?"
"Yes we did. We need to call everyone over," Darien suggested. Bunny got her communicator and within ten minutes the apartment was full.
"I'm so glad you made it back safely," Mina smiled.
"Yes, we were all worried about you," Kunzite admitted.
"So did the Redeans buy it?" Rini asked.
"Yes they did," Bunny assured everyone. "They don't suspect any of us."
"So what have you learned?" Amy got right to the point.
"Well, Rodo told us that it was his grandfather who started the empire, three thousand years ago," Darien started.
Most of the others all gasped. "Three - three thousand years ago..." Jet stammered.
"Yes, the average life span for a Redean is just over a thousand years," Trista stated. "We found that in our research, though we haven't found much else."
"Anyway, they clam that the empire started because some of the neighboring rulers were "unfit" to rule, and they wanted to help the people. And then the people insisted that the Redeans rule over them," Bunny explained. "How much, if any, of that is true, we don't know."
"Well, that tells us that they have been evil for at lest three thousand years," Zoisite remarked. "That means that we need to dig into the really old files to see what happened."
"So how did you four get back here anyway?" Michelle wondered.
"Oh that was easy," Molly smiled.
"Yeah, the King and Queen sent us back," Melvin explained.
"What? Why?" Amara demanded.
"Oh, well they want us to make sure that you scouts don't get your "evil hold over" the people of Tokyo again," Bunny giggled. "So they sent us to keep an eye on you until Darien and I can use our crystals again."
"As far as I can see, Buns and I have a pretty easy job right now," Darien joked.
"Well, lets go do some more research," Trista suggested to Amy and Zoisite. They said good bye and went back to headquarters.
"Well, I guess we just have to wait now," Lita sighed, as everyone else prepared to leave. "I hate that."
"Yeah, it gets kinda boring," Nephrite agreed.
"Guess I'll see you all in school tomorrow," Bunny smiled.
Bunny closed the door, looked around, smiled to herself and sighed. Darien saw, "What's with you?"
"Oh, nothing. Just glad to be back here with all my friends and going to school tomorrow with them." Bunny admitted. "Remember, it's been a long while since I've been to school and not ignored them."
Darien came over and rapped his arms around Bunny, "It's good to have you back Buns. They've all missed you."