Chapter 15
Luna's Discovery
"Luna? Luna?" The small black cat, who had been taking advantage of an empty throne room and lack of pressing duties to nap on the arm of the Queen's throne, reluctantly abandoned her slumber at the reigning princess' gentle call. Slowly, she opened one orange eye, then the other, focusing on Princess Serenity. The girl's young face was drawn and pale with worry.
"Yes, Highness?" the cat asked around a yawn.
"Have you seen my mother?"
"I have not," Luna answered. Standing, she stretched luxuriously and sat back on her haunches, curling her tail around her feet. "Why do you ask?"
"She was acting very strangely at breakfast," the princess told her. "She looked so frightened, and when I asked her what was wrong she blamed it on a dream. She then fled the dining hall, and I have not caught a glimpse of her since then." Luna frowned thoughtfully.
"Have you tried looking within for her? As her daughter, you know you can seek her with naught but your mind." Serenity exhaled heavily.
"I know," she admitted, "but I have never liked that method of seeking. I always feel as if I am intruding upon a place that is meant to be Mother's alone. I know that I would not like her slipping into my thoughts to learn my location if I did not grant my permission to do so." Luna chuckled gently.
"Well, you needn't read her thoughts, dearest, or even learn her exact location. The lightest touch upon her light can reveal much about her present condition. Why not give it a try? Just to assure yourself that she has not been harmed." The princess sighed again, but nodded in consent. As Luna kept a watchful orange eye on her, the Queen's daughter closed her eyes and furrowed her brow in concentration, retreating within herself. For a moment, a peaceful silence enveloped the throne room. Then, a hiss of something like pain burst from the princess. Luna raised herself to all fours, her tiny heart a drum behind her furry breast as she watched Serenity's golden pony's tails quiver violently.
"Princess!" she meowed frantically, pawing at the girl's arm. "Princess, are you alright?" Serenity gasped, her sapphire blue eyes flying open. Her tremors ceased, and for a moment she stood blinking numbly at the air above Luna's head.
"What is the matter, child?" Luna demanded. "Is your mother alright?" Serenity nodded slowly. Beads of perspiration glistened on an ashen brow.
"She is alright," the princess assured her feline nurse. "She is nearby. But she does not wish to be disturbed. I suspect she is praying. She never likes to be disturbed when she is praying." Slowly, Luna's pulse returned to normal. She blew out a long breath and nodded.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, I suppose you are right. Of course she would not wish to be disturbed while she speaks to your celestial mother." Serenity smiled weakly, and held out a hand to her nurse, who nuzzled it affectionately. Her fingers felt limp. Frowning, the princess put her other hand to her head, massaging her temple.
"I think I shall go and skate for a while," she informed Luna. "When mother returns, will you tell her where I have gone?" The cat gazed at her with concern.
"Are you quite alright, Highness?"
Serenity nodded. "I am well. It simply took much from me to put a rein upon my power. Mother's light is difficult to touch lightly." With that, she offered her nurse a shaky smile and stole from the throne room. Luna watched her go. A strange cloud of foreboding hung over the cat as she carefully considered what had just occurred. According to the princess, the High Queen was unharmed but did not wish to be disturbed. It could certainly be as her Highness said. The Queen might very well be perfectly safe, praying within the Crystal Tower. Luna did not know very much about the mental links that existed between the divine-blooded royals, or even the comparatively simple link between a mother and child. She did share minds with her mate on an elementary level, but she knew it was nothing compared to the sort of things that could pass between the minds of those as powerful as the High Queen and her daughter.
What did it feel like? Luna wondered. What the princess feel when she touched upon her mother's light and found that she did not wish to be disturbed? She suspected that if the princess had spoken truthfully--and why should she not have?--Queen Serenity would have raised a thin shield around her light, not completely closing herself off to the princess or the Sailor Soldiers, but veiling herself enough that anyone who touched her would know that her thoughts and location were her own at the moment. How did they learn that? Would they feel the Queen's light pushing back on them? Was it a knowledge that simply came upon them gently? That hardly seemed likely. For all that she might say, Luna had seen pain flicker across her princess' face, and there had been distinct uneasiness in her celestial blue eyes as she left.
After only a moment's hesitation, Luna leapt from the throne's arm and scampered towards the door at the back of the south wing, the one that lead to the wide field separating the Silver Palace from the Crystal Tower.
The air outside was rapidly warming as the moon's rotation brought the Silver Palace onto its bright side. Luna fought the lethargy threatening her as she soaked up the sun's warmth. Now was not the time to be dozing. To her left, Luna caught sight of the princess, bundled up in her moon-silver cloak with her skates slung over her shoulder, racing towards the dark side on the back of a unicorn stallion from the stables. Luna knew the girl would have no trouble finding a pond to skate away her troubles on. They were so scattered upon the moon that there was always one frozen on its dark side. The princess bore no lantern, but Luna could safely assume that she would use her own power to light her way. Resolving to leave the princess to her own merits, Luna continued on towards the Crystal Tower.
The guards, a male and female, greeted her amiably upon her arrival, inclining their heads respectfully. Luna offered them a diplomatic smile, copying the gesture.
"Begging pardon, sirs," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Is Her Majesty within?"
The guards exchanged looks of alarm. "Why, no, Mistress Luna," the female exclaimed, worry clearly displayed in her eyes. "Why? Can you not find her?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that!" Luna lied quickly. "I simply wished to know because I desire a moment of prayer with Great Selene, but have no desire to disturb the Queen if she is praying herself.
The male guard shook his head. "No, Mistress. Her Majesty is not present."
Luna gave the guard a long look. Finally, a smile that did not quite reach her orange eyes curved her furry black lips. "Then I shall take sometime to pray with her celestial mother."
The guards nodded to one another, and opened the door to allow the cat access to the prayer room. She quickly took for the stairs and raced up them as quickly as her feline legs would carry her. Her heart was a drum behind her ribs. The alarm with which the guards reacted to her question had set off a warning within her. Over the past weeks, she had noticed a change in Serenity. The High Queen slept little and ate less. Her eyes had taken on a haunted look, as though she felt Morganna's hand on her wherever she roamed. But any concerned questions had been met with a brave smile, and a cheerful remark that wrote off her condition to minor illness, or lack of sleep due to stress over possible strife in her kingdom. Luna had accepted these explanations. After all, Saturn's betrayal was less than a year in the Kingdom's past, and there could still be consequences to deal with. But now she discovered that the guards had noticed Serenity's condition. Guards did not associate with the Queen directly often enough to worry over trivial things like head colds or possible political strife that was not yet the concern of the general public. If the guards had reason to be worried, Luna had reason to be terrified—and reason to beg Selene's help.
As usual, the inner door of the Crystal Tower was locked, protecting the goddess' shrine, but the tiny flap in the door, just large enough for Luna or Artemis to get through, was always open. Luna trotted through it without a second thought. It squeaked slightly as she entered, and a gasp arose from behind the shrine. Luna, who had paused for a moment to comb her fur with her tongue, froze. Had she imagined it? A rustle of clothing followed the gasp. No. There was definitely someone there. Had an intruder managed to slip past the guards somehow? Knowing that anyone who might elude Serenity's guards would have to be armed with powerful magic, Luna's first plan of action was to retreat and alert Serenity and the Sailor Guardians to the fact that there was an intruder in the Crystal Tower. But when a soft, childlike whimper assailed her ears, she reconsidered. It defied all logic, but somehow, she could not fear the voice. She could, however, grow very angry with its owner for intruding upon a sacred place. Lifting her furry black chin, Luna marched behind the shrine to confront the one who dared to set foot in the Crystal Tower without permission—and stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw dropped.
Huddled behind the shrine on a small hill of pillows and blankets, staring at Luna through blue-violet eyes rimmed entirely in white, was Queen Serenity. And clasped to her bosom was the source of the whimper: a small, dark-haired girl, looking barely five years of age. Seeing Luna, feeling Serenity's arms tighten around her, the girl squeaked in fear and hid her face between the Queen's breasts.
"Luna!" the Queen whispered. "What are you doing here?"
Luna's orange eyes narrowed, agitated confusion overriding etiquette. "Why I am here hardly seems relevant, Majesty," she said coldly. "Who, may I ask, is that child?"
For a long moment, Serenity merely stared at her advisor, her expression both sad and thoughtful. Finally, she set her jaw, and fixed Luna with a hard blue eye. The child also dared to steal a glance at the little black cat.
"This is Lady Saturn's daughter, Hotaru," the Queen said. "She is under Selene's protection. And mine."
Luna's Discovery
"Luna? Luna?" The small black cat, who had been taking advantage of an empty throne room and lack of pressing duties to nap on the arm of the Queen's throne, reluctantly abandoned her slumber at the reigning princess' gentle call. Slowly, she opened one orange eye, then the other, focusing on Princess Serenity. The girl's young face was drawn and pale with worry.
"Yes, Highness?" the cat asked around a yawn.
"Have you seen my mother?"
"I have not," Luna answered. Standing, she stretched luxuriously and sat back on her haunches, curling her tail around her feet. "Why do you ask?"
"She was acting very strangely at breakfast," the princess told her. "She looked so frightened, and when I asked her what was wrong she blamed it on a dream. She then fled the dining hall, and I have not caught a glimpse of her since then." Luna frowned thoughtfully.
"Have you tried looking within for her? As her daughter, you know you can seek her with naught but your mind." Serenity exhaled heavily.
"I know," she admitted, "but I have never liked that method of seeking. I always feel as if I am intruding upon a place that is meant to be Mother's alone. I know that I would not like her slipping into my thoughts to learn my location if I did not grant my permission to do so." Luna chuckled gently.
"Well, you needn't read her thoughts, dearest, or even learn her exact location. The lightest touch upon her light can reveal much about her present condition. Why not give it a try? Just to assure yourself that she has not been harmed." The princess sighed again, but nodded in consent. As Luna kept a watchful orange eye on her, the Queen's daughter closed her eyes and furrowed her brow in concentration, retreating within herself. For a moment, a peaceful silence enveloped the throne room. Then, a hiss of something like pain burst from the princess. Luna raised herself to all fours, her tiny heart a drum behind her furry breast as she watched Serenity's golden pony's tails quiver violently.
"Princess!" she meowed frantically, pawing at the girl's arm. "Princess, are you alright?" Serenity gasped, her sapphire blue eyes flying open. Her tremors ceased, and for a moment she stood blinking numbly at the air above Luna's head.
"What is the matter, child?" Luna demanded. "Is your mother alright?" Serenity nodded slowly. Beads of perspiration glistened on an ashen brow.
"She is alright," the princess assured her feline nurse. "She is nearby. But she does not wish to be disturbed. I suspect she is praying. She never likes to be disturbed when she is praying." Slowly, Luna's pulse returned to normal. She blew out a long breath and nodded.
"Yes," she said. "Yes, I suppose you are right. Of course she would not wish to be disturbed while she speaks to your celestial mother." Serenity smiled weakly, and held out a hand to her nurse, who nuzzled it affectionately. Her fingers felt limp. Frowning, the princess put her other hand to her head, massaging her temple.
"I think I shall go and skate for a while," she informed Luna. "When mother returns, will you tell her where I have gone?" The cat gazed at her with concern.
"Are you quite alright, Highness?"
Serenity nodded. "I am well. It simply took much from me to put a rein upon my power. Mother's light is difficult to touch lightly." With that, she offered her nurse a shaky smile and stole from the throne room. Luna watched her go. A strange cloud of foreboding hung over the cat as she carefully considered what had just occurred. According to the princess, the High Queen was unharmed but did not wish to be disturbed. It could certainly be as her Highness said. The Queen might very well be perfectly safe, praying within the Crystal Tower. Luna did not know very much about the mental links that existed between the divine-blooded royals, or even the comparatively simple link between a mother and child. She did share minds with her mate on an elementary level, but she knew it was nothing compared to the sort of things that could pass between the minds of those as powerful as the High Queen and her daughter.
What did it feel like? Luna wondered. What the princess feel when she touched upon her mother's light and found that she did not wish to be disturbed? She suspected that if the princess had spoken truthfully--and why should she not have?--Queen Serenity would have raised a thin shield around her light, not completely closing herself off to the princess or the Sailor Soldiers, but veiling herself enough that anyone who touched her would know that her thoughts and location were her own at the moment. How did they learn that? Would they feel the Queen's light pushing back on them? Was it a knowledge that simply came upon them gently? That hardly seemed likely. For all that she might say, Luna had seen pain flicker across her princess' face, and there had been distinct uneasiness in her celestial blue eyes as she left.
After only a moment's hesitation, Luna leapt from the throne's arm and scampered towards the door at the back of the south wing, the one that lead to the wide field separating the Silver Palace from the Crystal Tower.
The air outside was rapidly warming as the moon's rotation brought the Silver Palace onto its bright side. Luna fought the lethargy threatening her as she soaked up the sun's warmth. Now was not the time to be dozing. To her left, Luna caught sight of the princess, bundled up in her moon-silver cloak with her skates slung over her shoulder, racing towards the dark side on the back of a unicorn stallion from the stables. Luna knew the girl would have no trouble finding a pond to skate away her troubles on. They were so scattered upon the moon that there was always one frozen on its dark side. The princess bore no lantern, but Luna could safely assume that she would use her own power to light her way. Resolving to leave the princess to her own merits, Luna continued on towards the Crystal Tower.
The guards, a male and female, greeted her amiably upon her arrival, inclining their heads respectfully. Luna offered them a diplomatic smile, copying the gesture.
"Begging pardon, sirs," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Is Her Majesty within?"
The guards exchanged looks of alarm. "Why, no, Mistress Luna," the female exclaimed, worry clearly displayed in her eyes. "Why? Can you not find her?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that!" Luna lied quickly. "I simply wished to know because I desire a moment of prayer with Great Selene, but have no desire to disturb the Queen if she is praying herself.
The male guard shook his head. "No, Mistress. Her Majesty is not present."
Luna gave the guard a long look. Finally, a smile that did not quite reach her orange eyes curved her furry black lips. "Then I shall take sometime to pray with her celestial mother."
The guards nodded to one another, and opened the door to allow the cat access to the prayer room. She quickly took for the stairs and raced up them as quickly as her feline legs would carry her. Her heart was a drum behind her ribs. The alarm with which the guards reacted to her question had set off a warning within her. Over the past weeks, she had noticed a change in Serenity. The High Queen slept little and ate less. Her eyes had taken on a haunted look, as though she felt Morganna's hand on her wherever she roamed. But any concerned questions had been met with a brave smile, and a cheerful remark that wrote off her condition to minor illness, or lack of sleep due to stress over possible strife in her kingdom. Luna had accepted these explanations. After all, Saturn's betrayal was less than a year in the Kingdom's past, and there could still be consequences to deal with. But now she discovered that the guards had noticed Serenity's condition. Guards did not associate with the Queen directly often enough to worry over trivial things like head colds or possible political strife that was not yet the concern of the general public. If the guards had reason to be worried, Luna had reason to be terrified—and reason to beg Selene's help.
As usual, the inner door of the Crystal Tower was locked, protecting the goddess' shrine, but the tiny flap in the door, just large enough for Luna or Artemis to get through, was always open. Luna trotted through it without a second thought. It squeaked slightly as she entered, and a gasp arose from behind the shrine. Luna, who had paused for a moment to comb her fur with her tongue, froze. Had she imagined it? A rustle of clothing followed the gasp. No. There was definitely someone there. Had an intruder managed to slip past the guards somehow? Knowing that anyone who might elude Serenity's guards would have to be armed with powerful magic, Luna's first plan of action was to retreat and alert Serenity and the Sailor Guardians to the fact that there was an intruder in the Crystal Tower. But when a soft, childlike whimper assailed her ears, she reconsidered. It defied all logic, but somehow, she could not fear the voice. She could, however, grow very angry with its owner for intruding upon a sacred place. Lifting her furry black chin, Luna marched behind the shrine to confront the one who dared to set foot in the Crystal Tower without permission—and stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw dropped.
Huddled behind the shrine on a small hill of pillows and blankets, staring at Luna through blue-violet eyes rimmed entirely in white, was Queen Serenity. And clasped to her bosom was the source of the whimper: a small, dark-haired girl, looking barely five years of age. Seeing Luna, feeling Serenity's arms tighten around her, the girl squeaked in fear and hid her face between the Queen's breasts.
"Luna!" the Queen whispered. "What are you doing here?"
Luna's orange eyes narrowed, agitated confusion overriding etiquette. "Why I am here hardly seems relevant, Majesty," she said coldly. "Who, may I ask, is that child?"
For a long moment, Serenity merely stared at her advisor, her expression both sad and thoughtful. Finally, she set her jaw, and fixed Luna with a hard blue eye. The child also dared to steal a glance at the little black cat.
"This is Lady Saturn's daughter, Hotaru," the Queen said. "She is under Selene's protection. And mine."