Okay, okay, I realize that it has been MONTHS since my last update. For
that, I apologize! I will try to be better about posting in the future.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I wouldn't mind owning Tuxedo Mask, though. There is just something about a man wearing a tuxedo and sporting a red-lined cape that really just makes me.well.enough about my fantasies. On to chapter 5!
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In the last chapter, Endymion finally woke up and found out that he was in Ellysion, while on the Sun, Orleana played dress-up with her mother's make- up as she gathered up enough courage to fetch the Ginzuishou. Oh, and she slapped around the hired help a bit, too.
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Light of Love: Red Moon Chapter 5: Warrior of the Moon
"Moon-"
"No, no!" Princess Rei snapped. "You have to shout it like you mean it!"
"But I was!"
The raven-haired girl snatched the glowing disk from her companion's hand. Her violet eyes slanted slightly as she tucked the golden object in toward the side of her stomach and shouted, "Moon Frisbee!"
She released the round disk with a quick, sharp snap of her wrist. The object rotated a half-dozen times before it stopped glowing and clattered loudly against the marble steps of the Moon Castle.
The girl standing beside her smiled soberly as she crossed her arms over her chest and muttered, "That didn't go very well, did it?"
Princess Rei's eyes deepened to dark purple as she spun around. Her normally pale skin crimsoned with irritation. The arrow-shaped symbol, representing
her home planet Mars, flared at the center of her forehead. Splotches of red greeted her soft cheeks as she growled peevishly, "It's not my attack!"
She twirled her senshi-clad figure around and stormed up the front steps of
the castle to retrieve her tiara. Her red high-heels clicked loudly. She placed the headpiece over her forehead, adjusting the golden object so that the blood-colored ruby covered her planet symbol and was centered perfectly above her dark, arched eyebrows. As she stepped back down the steps toward
her blonde-headed companion, she sighed and shook her head.
Princess Serenity was standing on the edge of the palace gardens, silently fumbling with the golden strands of one ponytail. The princess separated the long threads of hair in her fingers. Her honey-yellow head was bowed slightly downward.
Two small rows of pearls lined the top of her head, glistening in the afternoon light. A slight breeze passed through the skirt of her filmy pale dress, causing the light fabric to flutter about her tiny figure.
Princess Rei's eyes widened, in slight annoyance, as she gazed at Serenity. Rei may be a princess in her own right, but she knew that she paled in comparison to the small, absent-minded girl standing in the garden. Even in the light of day, Princess Serenity looked ethereal.
The irritation drained from Rei's face. In its place stood envy. Years ago, when she had first arrived at the Moon Castle as the apprentice to Sailor Mars, Rei had felt the first pangs of jealousy toward Princess Serenity. Nothing had been the matter with her own planet or her own castle, but Rei had quickly recognized that on the Moon, everything seemed to flourish a little more. At the center of the harmony stood the Moon Princess.
Over the years, Rei had carved out her own prestige in the Moon Court, both
as the apprentice of Sailor Mars and as one of Princess Serenity's dearest friends. Even with the waves of jealousy that occasionally crept into her heart, Rei couldn't help but love and adore Serenity. The Princess of Mars often worried and fussed over her friend. Rei's overprotective streak often came
across as hostile and angry, but the Martian could not help it. Many times, she found herself growing frustrated over Serenity's forgetfulness. Here she was, the future queen of the Moon, and she behaved like, well, Rei thought that Serenity behaved just like an irresponsible child. Although still a young girl, Serenity had to consider her future. One day, Serenity would be queen. Rei worried that her friend wasn't living up to her potential. Serenity's seeming indifference didn't help; her aloof attitude irritated the Princess of Mars.
Rei growled slightly. Her violet eyes slanted as she focused her frustration toward the blonde-haired princess before her, shouting, "It would be your attack if you-"
Serenity dropped her arms. The honey-colored threads of hair spilled from her hands. Her wide, crystal blue eyes met Rei's gaze. Rei's annoyance transitioned into regret as she noted the sparkle in Serenity's eyes fade. Her smile fell.
"If I was allowed to be a Senshi," the Moon Princess finished. Serenity shrugged and turned away from Rei.
The Martian apprentice felt like kicking herself. Serenity's birthright as the future queen forbade her from becoming a Senshi. Rei thought that becoming queen was far more appealing than training as a warrior, but she knew that Serenity envied her friends. In the afternoons, when she should have been studying Lunar history, Serenity could often be seen standing at the library window, watching her friends train on the lawns outside. Out of all of the opportunities Serenity was offered as the Moon Princess, she was denied the one thing she truly wanted and longed for: to be a Senshi.
"It's not all that glamorous, you know," Rei had confessed to Serenity after a particularly grueling day of training not too long ago. The Martian apprentice was applying ointment to an ugly, bleeding gash she had received from one of Venus' 'Love-Me' chains.
"But it certainly looks far more fun than regurgitating Lunar policies with Sailor Mercury all afternoon," Serenity had replied. As she placed a clean bandage over Rei's injury, she jokingly added, "And you have the cutest uniforms!"
Rei had laughed, "They aren't that great. Sure, the short skirts allow for
mobility, but have you ever tried to sprint in high-heels?"
It didn't matter. Serenity still wanted to be a Senshi. Rei knew better than to bring up the subject. The Martian teased Serenity about most things--from her odd traditional hairstyle to how ungraceful Serenity sometimes was when she was away from the court--but even Rei was wise enough not to tease Serenity about her inability to be a Senshi. While her friends were learning to use their powers to protect her, Serenity was learning to protect the entire universe.
Rei's expression softened as she closed the gap between them. She clenched her teeth together, silently cursing her own temper and jealousy. Her original intention had been to cheer up the melancholy princess by teaching her a couple of Senshi attacks. Instead, Rei had made Serenity upset.
When she was just a few steps behind the Moon Princess, Rei let out a sigh
and whispered, "I am sorry, Serenity."
Serenity smiled slightly. She shrugged and said quietly, "It's okay. It's the truth."
The two girls turned and approached the silver-green hedge towering behind them. They began to walk beside it, away from the prying eyes of the castle guards. Serenity again tugged at one of her blonde ponytails, separating the strands with her fingertips. It was a nervous habit she indulged in when she was far enough away from anyone who would admonish her unladylike behavior. Being trained
as a Sailor Senshi was one of the aforementioned unfavorable traits. At least, for her, Serenity thought bitterly, it was.
Rei flashed her violet eyes over her right shoulder. Serenity was staring down at the stone pathway beneath her feet. The Princess of Mars smiled.
"You should have Minako show you the Moon Frisbee throw," Rei offered. "She's far more advanced than I am."
The corners of Serenity's mouth turned up as she raised her head to smile at Rei. The Martian noticed how the tears clung to Serenity's clear blue eyes.
"Don't cry, Serenity!" Rei whispered as she stopped walking. She took a step in front of the princess. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say--"
Serenity shook her blonde head furiously. A tear slid down her right cheek.
"I'm not upset at you Rei!" Serenity choked. She wiped the tear from her face. She sniffled. "It's just that I can't help but feel sort of helpless. You and Minako and Makoto and Ami are all learning how to protect yourselves and fight an enemy, and I am stuck in a room reciting the same old dates and names. "
"Which will be of use in the future!" declared the familiar voice of Princess Ami.
Both Rei and Serenity twirled around. Like Rei, the Mercurian was dressed in her blue and white senshi costume. Her bright blue hair glistened in the light of the afternoon. Rei and Serenity noticed that Ami cradled a large object between her arms. As the girl neared them, Serenity groaned. She recognized the item that Ami carried; it was a history book. Before departing with the Queen and the other Senshi, Sailor Mercury had instructed Princess Serenity to read chapters 92- 105 . Serenity now scrunched her face in repulsion, as though the text reeked of something foul and dead.
Princess Ami held the cumbersome book to Serenity's face. A small smile of
amusement crept over her as she uttered, "I found this unattended in the library. Aren't you supposed to be studying?"
Serenity rolled her bright blue eyes toward the heavens. A deep sigh escaped from her lips. Trust Ami to keep her on task. "My eyes were tired from reading," she muttered.
"But you aren't even three pages into chapter 93," Ami replied. "Sailor Mercury told me that you must read up until the death of Queen Serenity VII, which is covered in chapter 105."
"I've already read about it," Serenity snapped defensively.
"Then what happens?" demanded Ami. She raised her right eyebrow. Serenity
bit her lower lip and shrugged.
Ami sighed. Her ocean-blue eyes met Serenity's guilty gaze as she concluded, "You haven't read it."
"She's taking a study break!" snarled Princess Rei, snatching the offensive book from Princess Ami. She dropped the heavy volume carelessly on a nearby stone bench. Ami flinched at the abuse. Rei smiled. "I don't know about Mercurians," she hissed spitefully through her teeth, "but normal people need to relax a little. It's not natural for us to sit in one spot for countless hours without standing."
Ami's ocean-colored eyes did not falter. Swiping a hand through her glossy blue hair, she pondered, "Do study breaks usually last three hours?" Turning victoriously toward Serenity, she said, "That's how long it's been since I found your abandoned book."
Serenity opened her mouth to reply, but a voice from another position in the garden defended her actions.
"Cut Princess Serenity some slack!" came the declaration. Princess Makoto, clad in the green and pink sailor fuku of Jupiter, peeked her head around the side of a tall hedge. Makoto's face was flushed. She had been practicing her kicks in an isolated area of the garden. She smiled warmly as she greeted the three girls. The brunette's breathing was heavy and labored, but her green eyes sparkled.
"Why should the princess be cooped up in that stuffy, dusty library on such a beautiful afternoon?" Makoto inquired.
Ami eyed each of her opponents. Shaking her head, she muttered, "Sailor Mercury warned me that this would happen." She crossed her gloved hands across her chest as she added, "She said that after she and the others departed, that all of you would run amok."
Serenity laughed. "Amok? Abandoning my studies for a few hours is running ' amok'?"
"You were spying on us, Ami?" inquired Rei. Color filtered into her cheeks as she asked, "Did that rat Mercury tell you to keep an eye on us while she and Queen Serenity are away?"
Princess Ami bit the inside of her lip. When Rei put it like that, it sounded horrid and deceptive. Ami opened her mouth to respond, but another voice interrupted her.
"Ami wasn't spying on you!" came the confident, even tone of Princess Minako. She bounded down the pathway of the garden, her blonde hair dancing wildly behind her. The heart links of the chain dangling around her orange and blue senshi uniform swayed and jingled. Winking devilishly at Serenity, she grinned and declared loudly, "I was!"
She began to laugh. Ami, Makoto, Rei, and Serenity peered at her questioningly.
"What are you up to, Minako?" pondered Serenity. Of all of her friends, Minako was the worst at keeping a secret. Serenity could detect, merely from her red face factor, that Minako had been plotting.
"I saw you," Minako finally declared, swaying her figure from side to side like a hyperactive child.
"Who?" demanded Makoto.
"Serenity and Rei," Minako replied, nodding her head toward the two girls. It was then that Ami, always the quick observer, noticed that Minako's hands were tucked behind her back.
"What are you hiding?" Ami inquired, pointing a suspicious finger in Minako's direction.
Makoto, who was standing closer to the Princess of Venus than the others, attempted to look behind the blonde's back. Minako merely took a couple of quick steps backward and said, "Rei was trying to teach you the 'Moon Frisbee' throw, right?"
The curiosity in Serenity's bright blue eyes faded. Her gaze fell. "She was trying," Serenity muttered, "but I wasn't exactly learning."
"You can't expect to master a throw the first few times you try it," responded the ever-practical Ami.
"Just think of how long we have been practicing and training," Makoto offered.
"Years and years!" declared Rei.
Serenity silently nodded her head, not daring to look into the faces of her friends. She knew it was ridiculous to get so worked up over something beyond her control, but her heart ached in her chest. She kicked her feet against the glossy stepping stones of the garden.
"That's a part of it," Minako agreed. "But I thought a bit of a cosmetic transformation may help Serenity get more into character. What do you think?"
Violet, emerald, and aqua-colored eyes flashed dangerously at the Venetian Princess. Minako grinned at the suspicious expressions on her friends' faces.
"What are you proposing?" Makoto finally demanded.
Minako laughed gleefully. She mockingly pointed her left hand at Rei, Ami,
Makoto, and Serenity. As the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, the Venetian Princess produced the object that she had been concealing behind her back.
As Princess Serenity spied the object, a feeling of dread dropped like a boulder from her stomach to her knees. She could only see the pink jeweled top of the item sparkling in the afternoon light, but instantly Serenity recognized that the object was the Lunar Pen. Instinctively, the Moon Princess reached her right hand out to snatch the object from Princess Minako.
"Hey!" snapped the Venetian. Her triumphant smile disappeared.
The other three stared on curiously. Ami raised her right eyebrow. She could not help but feel as though she had seen the pink stick somewhere before.
Serenity wrapped her fingers tightly around the Lunar Pen. The object warmed to her touch. The pink jewel sparkled and glowed. A twinge of energy sang through Serenity's body. She shivered.
"Hey, is that the-" Makoto's voice trailed off. Her green eyes widened. Turning toward the Princess of Venus, Makoto shook her head. "Minako-chan..."
"I thought I sensed the energy of the Moon," Rei whispered. Her violet gaze glared at the blonde Venetian princess. "How in the name of Selene..."
Ami blinked several times. As she focused on the object, she finally uttered, "It's the Lunar Pen!"
Her four companions rolled their eyes at the blue-haired girl. Ami's round cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Mercurians were known for their astonishing intellect, and here she was, the last person to recognize such a powerful and legendary Lunar object.
In an attempt to save a bit of face, Ami said, very factually, "Access to the Lunar Pen is very limited. Even Sailor Mercury is not allowed near the corner of the Prayer Room where it is kept. How in Selene did you manage to procure it, Minako?"
Minako tossed her hair over her shoulder. Crossing her arms over the blue bow of her fuku, Venetian opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the Moon Princess.
"Sailor Venus has access to the Lunar Pen," uttered Serenity. She leveled her cobalt gaze to peer at the future leader of the Senshi. Minako snapped her mouth shut abruptly like a snapping turtle. "So the future Sailor Venus also has access to the Lunar Pen," Serenity finished, shaking her head at Princess Minako.
"You just took it?" Makoto questioned. "Why would you do such a thing?"
Minako sighed. "I saw you out on the steps with Rei," she confessed to Serenity. "Attempting the 'Moon Frisbee Throw,' and it didn't look right."
"Oh thanks," dryly responded Serenity, turning.
"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Minako stated. She took a couple of steps toward Serenity. Placing a gloved hand on the Moon Princess' shoulder, Minako continued, "It looked strange because you're Princess Serenity! Princess Serenity doesn't throw tiaras through the air to destroy youmas! Princess Serenity wears long flowing gowns and regurgitates rules and regulations for that old battle-ax Sailor Mercury."
"Hey!" defensively snapped Princess Ami.
Rolling her gaze back to the blue-haired princess, Minako quickly muttered, "No offense to your distant aunt, Ami, but she is an absolute war general, academically speaking." Minako focused her attention to Serenity as she further explained. "Princess Serenity is far too distinctive and demure to do the 'Moon Frisbee' throw." Eyeing Serenity's meek gaze, Minako said softly, "You know I am right. That's why you couldn't get it to work properly."
"What are you getting at, Minako?" snarled Rei impatiently. She noticed the tears glazing over Serenity's blue eyes, again threatening to fall at any moment.
"Only a Senshi can successfully perform a 'Moon Frisbee.' As the Moon Princess, Serenity has a lot of strengths and skills, but as Sailor Moon..."
"Sailor Moon!" gasped Makoto. Her ponytail tossed from side to side as she shook her head. "There is no Sailor Moon."
Rei, Minako, and Ami rolled their eyes at Princess Jupiter.
"That's what the Lunar Pen is for, baka," muttered Rei, playfully smacking Makoto on the back of the head. Makoto's emerald eyes pleaded with Ami's for answers.
"Makoto, you really need to be more attentive in class," the Princess of Mercury declared. "Minako stole the pen so that Serenity can transform into Sailor Moon."
"I didn't steal it!" a defensive Minako declared. The chastising looks of her companions made her cheeks flush. Doggedly, she uttered, "I just borrowed it."
"Well," snorted Ami, "Whatever you call it, you had no right to remove it from the Prayer Room. You should march right back to the castle..."
"Wait!" interrupted Rei as she held her arms up in the air. "This is intriguing. Would the Lunar Pen really transform Serenity into Sailor Moon?"
Minako shrugged. "I don't see why it wouldn't."
Four pairs of eyes--two blue, one green, and one violet--turned sharply toward the Princess of Mercury. Ami's eyes widened as she shook her head from side to side. "Don't look at me! I don't know everything!"
The girls turned to Serenity, who was staring at the sparkling pink object in her hand. Running her thumb over the top of the pen, the Princess of the Moon glanced at her four companions. Anticipation glittered in her eyes.
"What do I do?" the Princess whispered. She moved her wide saucer gaze back to the Lunar Pen.
"Wave the pen high in the air," Minako instructed, raising her own arm above her head. Serenity mirrored her movements clumsily. "Shout, 'Moon Power!' and what you want to morph into."
Serenity nodded. She raised her eyes to the object that she was now waving above her. Hope, fear, excitement, and dread clogged her throat. Swallowing hard, Serenity shouted, "Moon Power!"
The pen began to sparkle. Ribbons of light burst forth from each prism atop the pink jeweled cap of the Lunar Pen. The gold and pink light engulfed Serenity's form, hugging her with energy. The power released by the Lunar Pen caused Serenity's hand to shake as she attempted to hold onto it.
"Let go of it and morph!" ordered Princess Ami.
Serenity did as she was told, releasing her grip on the stick. Instead of shooting away from the Princess, the pen kept its vigil above her head, twirling quickly. Warm sparks showered down as Princess Serenity shouted, "Morph me into Sailor Moon!"
The energy intensified. A shaft of white hot light encompassed the princess. Of the four bystanders, only Makoto refrained from shielding her eyes. She wanted to be the first person in the universe to rest her gaze on Sailor Moon. Her green eyes watered. Her eyelids were begging to clamp shut against the pure light, but Makoto only blinked quickly.
As the energy faded and Makoto was able to see the outline of the princess, she moaned her disappointment. Already, she could tell that the transformation hadn't worked. She instantly recognized Serenity's familiar silhouette--the royal bun hairdo and all. Aside from the two strange, red glowing objects sparkling from those hair buns, Makoto didn't see anything different. She shut her eyes tightly, grumbling, "Well, maybe the pen is broken or something."
Ami, Rei, and Minako opened their own eyes, blinking to adjust to the light.
From their various gaping mouths, wide eyes, and heads shaking in disbelief, Serenity that knew she looked different. She held her arms out in front of her. Her hands were covered by white gloves that stretched up to a ribbon of red at her elbows. Serenity shivered and glanced downward. First, she spotted the red bow at the center of her chest. Placing her gloved hands across her collar bones, Serenity leaned forward to peer at the rest of her costume. A white, short-sleeved bodysuit hugged tightly against her form. A bright blue skirt--a darker shade of blue than Sailor Mercury's--flared out from her hips. The skirt ended at her upper thigh, leaving her legs exposed to the knees. Red boots, each kissed with a ribbon of white around the top, graced her feet.
Serenity glanced up at her dumbfounded friends. By this time, Makoto had opened her eyes again and discovered that her first conclusion had been incorrect. The pen had worked wondrously. The Princess had, indeed, become Sailor Moon. If there was any doubt, the pair of upturned yellow crescents at the tops of her boots indicated that Serenity was the Senshi of the Moon.
"Do I look like a Senshi?" Serenity whispered quietly, almost too afraid to speak. If this was a dream, she wanted to enjoy it. It would be a shame for it to be interrupted by Luna snapping at her to wake up.
"You're Sailor Moon," Rei uttered simply. "Your fuku puts ours to shame."
"Really?" Serenity squealed. She took a couple of quick steps forward, away from the shelter of the tall hedges and toward the Moon Castle.
"WAIT!" cried her friends, chasing after her. Serenity stopped abruptly and spun around.
"I have to look!" cried the Princess.
"You can't let the guards see you like this," Ami snapped.
"Ferro--no, Artemis would have all of our hides if he saw you dressed as a Senshi," warned Minako.
"And he would tell your mother," Makoto said.
Serenity shook her head. "But I have to see what I look like! This is sheer torture, knowing that you can see me as Sailor Moon but I can't!"
Rei's violet eyes twinkled. "What about your compact, Minako? It has a mirror, right?"
Minako smiled and reached into the pocket of her fuku. A silver, round compact, bearing the symbol of the planet Venus, sparkled in her hand as Minako pulled it from her uniform. She popped the compact open and handed it to Serenity.
The Princess peered into the small looking glass. Holding it at an arms- length away, Serenity could see bits and pieces of her costume. A pair of twinkling red orbs, trimmed with a pearl white rim, sparkled from each bun on her head. Instead of a the pair of customary pearls lining each side of her hair, a pair of feather clusters trimmed with pearls gleamed at the top of her golden bangs. Pushing her bangs away from her forehead, Serenity gasped. A tiara, complete with a dark rose-colored orb, covered the Moon symbol at the center of her forehead. She ran a finger along the tiara. Her free hand trailed down the side of her face to the red ribbon choker around her neck. She fumbled with the upturned crescent charm at its center, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What do you think?" questioned Makoto. "Not too bad for a Moon Princess, huh?"
"Not bad," agreed the Moon Princess herself, snapping the silver compact shut. Handing it to Minako, Serenity confessed, "I wish I see the entire outfit, though."
"Quick, Minako," Rei snorted, nudging the Princess of Venus in the shoulder, "Transform yourself into a full-length mirror!"
"Oh ha, ha," snarled Minako, pushing Rei back.
"That isn't a bad idea," Ami responded.
"Not funny, Ami!" Minako snapped peevishly. "I am not morphing into a mirror. No matter how many tests you promise to pass for me."
"Not you, but that," Ami stated, pointing a finger toward a large, pink marble fountain at the opposite side of the garden.
Serenity's bright blue eyes widened as she spied the large, rose-shaped basin of the fountain. Emerging from the center of the stone bloom stood a woman clad in a loose robe. Tucked underneath her right arm was slightly tipped pitcher, which spilled a small trickle of water into the filled pool below.
The fountain had always fascinated the Moon Princess. It was a gift from a former King of the Earth. The King had died centuries ago; he had been the last in a long, powerful lineage. Princess Serenity had heard from the servants that the King had given the fountain to her mother while he had been courting her; the large stained-glass window in the library was another of the King's gifts. The Princess had spent countless hours in the library, staring dreamily up at the tinted shards of green, blue and white-colored glass when she should have been studying. Noting the craftsmanship of the window or the fountain, Serenity pondered how the barbaric Terran people could create such delicate and refined pieces of art.
A smile crept across her lips as Serenity scampered quickly across the garden. Rei let out a squeal of surprise and threw a wary gaze toward the Moon Castle guards. Much of the garden was concealed by tall hedges, but the place where the fountain stood was purposely exposed. The large marble sculpture was easily visible from the front steps of the palace, which also happened to be where many of the guards were currently positioned. At this point, Rei fumed, Serenity may as well take a look at her reflection in the large pool at the front of the palace. Better yet, the Princess of Mars thought, Serenity could approach one of the guards, dressed as Sailor Moon, and ask them for a mirror!
"Mercury Bubbles Spray!" called out Ami. A thick fog engulfed them.
Rei grinned. Apparently, she was not the only one who worried about being watched.
"Oof!" the Princess of Mars grunted, as someone slammed into her back.
"Sorry!" said Minako, "I can't see a thing in this fog!"
Slowly, the princesses of Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter found their way to the fountain. Rei created a "Ring of Fire" around them, causing the mist from Ami's fog attack to dissipate the immediate area.
Serenity leaned her form over the edge of the fountain. The tips of her pony tails dangled into the pool of liquid. The trickle of water coming from the pitcher beneath the stone woman's arm disrupted the calm surface. It created small waves in the water, blurring the reflection of Sailor Moon.
"Can you freeze the water or something, Ami?" Makoto asked, noting the disappointment on Serenity's face.
Ami shook her head. "Freezing the water may damage the internal mechanisms of the fountain which cause it to work," she said factually. Running a gloved hand through her blue hair, Ami added, "But I may be able to manipulate the water."
Concentrating on the pool of liquid resting in the basin, Ami closed her eyes and held up her hands in front of her. Sailor Mercury had just begun to teach her young apprentice how to shift and move the water into different forms. Princess Ami had only been practicing on cupfuls; to manipulate such a large pool of water would be a challenge. Ami envisioned the liquid as a wide looking glass as she shouted, "Mercury Aqua Transformation!"
As if under a trance, the water slowly--and painfully, if Ami had been able to comment at that moment--lifted from its resting place and transitioned into a large, flat curtain. Ripples flowed through the makeshift looking glass as the Princess of Mercury shut her lids tightly and concentrated harder. She didn't know how long she would be able to keep the water in its present, unnatural shape.
The princesses of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter marveled over Ami's newest trick while Serenity twirled around in front of the temporary looking glass. Turning her back to the water mirror and glancing over her shoulder, she admired the neatly tied red bow at the base of her back, and the bright blue sailor sash slung over her shoulders.
"Sailor Moon doesn't look half bad," Serenity remarked, tossing a blonde ponytail over her right shoulder.
Ami, hoping that Serenity was finished admiring herself, let go of her control over the water. The blanket of liquid spilled immediately to the ground. Her unsuspecting friends suddenly found themselves splashed with a great deal of water.
"Hey!" snarled Rei. Her violet eyes shot daggers toward the future Senshi of Mercury.
"Sorry," Ami squeaked. "I don't know how to put it back yet."
"Serenity, why don't you try the 'Moon Frisbee' throw now?" suggested Makoto. She was wringing out her own green skirt. Small sparks of electricity danced around her, conducting itself through the water. Her companions noted the build- up of current and took a couple of wary steps away from her.
Upon Minako's suggestion--the wisest thing she had said all day, Rei muttered-the group retreated back to their original position in the garden. Just as Rei had instructed, Serenity grasped the center of her tiara. The jewel at its middle warmed upon being touched. The Princess of the Moon removed the golden disk from her forehead and balanced it on top of her right hand. The golden object glowed and began to spin.
Ami's eye wandered from Serenity's hand and up to her smile. The Mercurian grinned as she noted the excitement in Moon Princess' face. Ami's bright, cornflower blue eyes widened with wonderment. A flash of red light from those peculiar red objects on Serenity's head distracted Ami's attention. Obviously, Ami thought, those glowing orbs served some sort of purpose. But what? Ami's gaze wandered back to Serenity's face. It was then that Princess Mercury noticed that the upturned golden crescent had disappeared from Serenity's forehead. Ami bit her lower lip as she noted the peculiarity. Lunarians could disguise their moon symbols through a series of chants, but why would Serenity's symbol disappear when she transformed into Sailor Moon? Even when dressed as the Senshi, the planet symbols on the foreheads of Ami and the others remained. Why would Serenity's vanish?
"Moon Frisbee!" shouted the Princess of the Moon, throwing the twirling object with all of her might. As soon as the golden disk left her hand, it rotated a half-dozen times and fell against the ground. Serenity's smile fell instantly into a frown. At least, she mused silently, it hadn't clattered loudly against the marble steps as Rei's failed attempt at the Moon Frisbee had earlier. Dryly, she echoed her comment, "That didn't go very well, did it?"
The dejected, sympathetic looks her friends offered Serenity as she looked up from the fallen tiara did not cheer her spirits. They felt sorry for their poor princess, who couldn't even master such a simple attack.
"Maybe you didn't power up enough," suggested Makoto. She reached down to retrieve the tiara. Serenity grudgingly accepted the object. Rather than look up at her friends, Serenity kept her eyes on the tiara, admiring the simple craftsmanship of the golden disk.
"Or you weren't concentrating enough," Rei softly added.
"You may need more practice," offered Ami.
"Don't worry, Serenity," Minako piped in, "Perhaps the 'Moon Frisbee' isn't Sailor Moon's attack. Perhaps we should try a 'Crescent Beam,' or..."
"Stop it, Minako!" snapped the Moon Princess, throwing her tiara down at her feet. "I am not Sailor Moon! There is no Senshi of the Moon! The attack didn't work because this," she grasped the edge of her bright blue skirt, "isn't real! It's an illusion! Created by the stupid Lunar Pen. If there were a henshin stick for Sailor Moon, I could be Sailor Moon! But I can't."
Tears were flowing freely from Serenity's wide eyes. Her stained cheeks were bright red. The princess heaved as she cried.
"I'm sorry, Serenity," Minako uttered. She put an arm around the Moon Princess, "You've been so sad over the last few months, since Linnaus left, and I thought this would cheer you up."
"Well, it did," Serenity sobbed. "for a little bit."
Again, the bright red objects on top of Serenity's head began to glow. Ami, Makoto, and Rei glanced first from those strange orbs and then to each other. This time, the glowing objects seemed to directly effect Serenity, who suddenly wavered on her feet. Had Minako not been holding onto her, the Moon Princess would have surely fallen to the ground.
Serenity did not explain to her companions what had happened. A wave of negative emotion melted through her. The princess felt panic and dread fill her body. Something was terribly wrong. She felt as though a trespasser were beating against her chest, attempting steal her heart and soul. Gasping, she nearly fell to the ground again. It reminded her of the night of the Terran Eclipse, but the threat felt even closer. She glanced toward the Palace. Somehow, she knew the threat was inside, creeping through the hallways and corridors...
"Serenity?" cried Makoto, softly patting her hand. The Moon Princess broke out of her trance and glanced back at the others. Blinking, Serenity tried to smile.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I got a little to worked up."
"Are you going to be all right?" asked Rei nervously. Her sixth sense detected a great level of panic and unease in Serenity.
Instead of telling her friends of the pain racking her body, Serenity just shrugged and muttered, "I am just tired. Too much excitement."
"Perhaps you should lay down?" suggested the ever-practical Ami, "I can tell Sailor Mercury that you weren't feeling well when she and the others return."
Serenity nodded quietly. She dreaded the thought of wandering back to the palace alone with such strange feelings still intruding her senses. Her imagination was definitely keeping her on her toes this afternoon. She made several steps toward the direction of the palace when Rei's reprimanding voice stopped her.
"Baka!" the Princess of Mars shouted. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Rei motioned toward Serenity's costume.
The Moon Princess' face reddened. She held the pen out and untransformed. Holding the Lunar Pen in her right hand, Serenity declared, eyeing Minako, "This is going back to the Prayer Room, where it belongs."
Her luminescent gown swirled around her slight form as Serenity turned toward the castle. As Princess of the Moon disappeared behind the hedge, Ami turned the group, her aqua blue eyes widening as she whispered, "I don't think that Serenity can be Sailor Moon."
"Why not?" pondered Minako. "We're all princesses from our respective planets."
"And because of that," pointed out Makoto, "We are able to be Senshi."
"Her Moon symbol disappeared," uttered Ami. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefingers. If only she had access to Sailor Mercury's computer, Ami may be able to trace the energy levels of the Moon Princess when she was Sailor Moon. Ami was both fascinated and flustered by the recent turn of events. Obviously, the Lunar Pen could only turn Serenity into Sailor Moon if such a Senshi existed at all. And what Makoto said about only princesses being turned into Senshi made sense. So why did Serenity lose her Moon symbol? Ami groaned. The Mercurian would not be able to rest until she sought out the answer to this question. Since the girls had been doing something they should not have been doing, Ami would not be able to seek out the opinion of the much wiser, far more experienced and insightful Sailor Mercury.
Glancing up at her companions, Ami saw that her concern did not wash over the entire group. Makoto was playfully throwing electrical charges at Rei and Minako, who were successfully--yet clumsily--dodging her attacks. Makoto was glad to be rid of the extra build-up of energy caused by the earlier douse of water; Ami giggled as she watched the honey and raven haired girls tumble against the lawn or leap high into the air to avoid Makoto's assaults.
Minako finally managed to get out of the line of fire. "Venus Love Me Chain!" the future Senshi of Love shouted out. Golden heart-shaped links materialized. With skill that came from much practice, Minako managed to catch hold of Makoto's right wrist with the sparkling chain. Makoto's hand had been poised in the air to throw another lightening shock in Rei's direction.
"Hey!" squealed Makoto. "No fair!"
Makoto attempted, with her great strength, to throw Minako off of her feet by tugging furiously on the heart-linked chain. Minako released her hold and Makoto fell to the ground, laughing.
At least, Ami thought to herself, they were actually practicing like they were supposed to. Smothering an amused grin, the Mercurian turned to the huge history book she had carried out to the gardens. Perhaps somewhere, on one of the yellowed pages of this huge volume, there would be mention of Sailor Moon. Like a true Mercurian, Ami needed answers. She sat down on the cold marble bench and placed the book in her lap. As she fumbled through the great volume, Ami traced the pages for any information which mentioned a Senshi of the Moon.
******
End of Chapter 5
******
Okay, so what did you think? Loved it? Despised it? Made you squirm with unease? I don't know why it would make you squirm, but if it did, let me know. I appreciate reviews, so please take a moment to write one. Thanks!
Hollie (holliedaye@hotmail.com) July 2003
Return for Chapter 6: Jaded
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I wouldn't mind owning Tuxedo Mask, though. There is just something about a man wearing a tuxedo and sporting a red-lined cape that really just makes me.well.enough about my fantasies. On to chapter 5!
********
In the last chapter, Endymion finally woke up and found out that he was in Ellysion, while on the Sun, Orleana played dress-up with her mother's make- up as she gathered up enough courage to fetch the Ginzuishou. Oh, and she slapped around the hired help a bit, too.
*******
Light of Love: Red Moon Chapter 5: Warrior of the Moon
"Moon-"
"No, no!" Princess Rei snapped. "You have to shout it like you mean it!"
"But I was!"
The raven-haired girl snatched the glowing disk from her companion's hand. Her violet eyes slanted slightly as she tucked the golden object in toward the side of her stomach and shouted, "Moon Frisbee!"
She released the round disk with a quick, sharp snap of her wrist. The object rotated a half-dozen times before it stopped glowing and clattered loudly against the marble steps of the Moon Castle.
The girl standing beside her smiled soberly as she crossed her arms over her chest and muttered, "That didn't go very well, did it?"
Princess Rei's eyes deepened to dark purple as she spun around. Her normally pale skin crimsoned with irritation. The arrow-shaped symbol, representing
her home planet Mars, flared at the center of her forehead. Splotches of red greeted her soft cheeks as she growled peevishly, "It's not my attack!"
She twirled her senshi-clad figure around and stormed up the front steps of
the castle to retrieve her tiara. Her red high-heels clicked loudly. She placed the headpiece over her forehead, adjusting the golden object so that the blood-colored ruby covered her planet symbol and was centered perfectly above her dark, arched eyebrows. As she stepped back down the steps toward
her blonde-headed companion, she sighed and shook her head.
Princess Serenity was standing on the edge of the palace gardens, silently fumbling with the golden strands of one ponytail. The princess separated the long threads of hair in her fingers. Her honey-yellow head was bowed slightly downward.
Two small rows of pearls lined the top of her head, glistening in the afternoon light. A slight breeze passed through the skirt of her filmy pale dress, causing the light fabric to flutter about her tiny figure.
Princess Rei's eyes widened, in slight annoyance, as she gazed at Serenity. Rei may be a princess in her own right, but she knew that she paled in comparison to the small, absent-minded girl standing in the garden. Even in the light of day, Princess Serenity looked ethereal.
The irritation drained from Rei's face. In its place stood envy. Years ago, when she had first arrived at the Moon Castle as the apprentice to Sailor Mars, Rei had felt the first pangs of jealousy toward Princess Serenity. Nothing had been the matter with her own planet or her own castle, but Rei had quickly recognized that on the Moon, everything seemed to flourish a little more. At the center of the harmony stood the Moon Princess.
Over the years, Rei had carved out her own prestige in the Moon Court, both
as the apprentice of Sailor Mars and as one of Princess Serenity's dearest friends. Even with the waves of jealousy that occasionally crept into her heart, Rei couldn't help but love and adore Serenity. The Princess of Mars often worried and fussed over her friend. Rei's overprotective streak often came
across as hostile and angry, but the Martian could not help it. Many times, she found herself growing frustrated over Serenity's forgetfulness. Here she was, the future queen of the Moon, and she behaved like, well, Rei thought that Serenity behaved just like an irresponsible child. Although still a young girl, Serenity had to consider her future. One day, Serenity would be queen. Rei worried that her friend wasn't living up to her potential. Serenity's seeming indifference didn't help; her aloof attitude irritated the Princess of Mars.
Rei growled slightly. Her violet eyes slanted as she focused her frustration toward the blonde-haired princess before her, shouting, "It would be your attack if you-"
Serenity dropped her arms. The honey-colored threads of hair spilled from her hands. Her wide, crystal blue eyes met Rei's gaze. Rei's annoyance transitioned into regret as she noted the sparkle in Serenity's eyes fade. Her smile fell.
"If I was allowed to be a Senshi," the Moon Princess finished. Serenity shrugged and turned away from Rei.
The Martian apprentice felt like kicking herself. Serenity's birthright as the future queen forbade her from becoming a Senshi. Rei thought that becoming queen was far more appealing than training as a warrior, but she knew that Serenity envied her friends. In the afternoons, when she should have been studying Lunar history, Serenity could often be seen standing at the library window, watching her friends train on the lawns outside. Out of all of the opportunities Serenity was offered as the Moon Princess, she was denied the one thing she truly wanted and longed for: to be a Senshi.
"It's not all that glamorous, you know," Rei had confessed to Serenity after a particularly grueling day of training not too long ago. The Martian apprentice was applying ointment to an ugly, bleeding gash she had received from one of Venus' 'Love-Me' chains.
"But it certainly looks far more fun than regurgitating Lunar policies with Sailor Mercury all afternoon," Serenity had replied. As she placed a clean bandage over Rei's injury, she jokingly added, "And you have the cutest uniforms!"
Rei had laughed, "They aren't that great. Sure, the short skirts allow for
mobility, but have you ever tried to sprint in high-heels?"
It didn't matter. Serenity still wanted to be a Senshi. Rei knew better than to bring up the subject. The Martian teased Serenity about most things--from her odd traditional hairstyle to how ungraceful Serenity sometimes was when she was away from the court--but even Rei was wise enough not to tease Serenity about her inability to be a Senshi. While her friends were learning to use their powers to protect her, Serenity was learning to protect the entire universe.
Rei's expression softened as she closed the gap between them. She clenched her teeth together, silently cursing her own temper and jealousy. Her original intention had been to cheer up the melancholy princess by teaching her a couple of Senshi attacks. Instead, Rei had made Serenity upset.
When she was just a few steps behind the Moon Princess, Rei let out a sigh
and whispered, "I am sorry, Serenity."
Serenity smiled slightly. She shrugged and said quietly, "It's okay. It's the truth."
The two girls turned and approached the silver-green hedge towering behind them. They began to walk beside it, away from the prying eyes of the castle guards. Serenity again tugged at one of her blonde ponytails, separating the strands with her fingertips. It was a nervous habit she indulged in when she was far enough away from anyone who would admonish her unladylike behavior. Being trained
as a Sailor Senshi was one of the aforementioned unfavorable traits. At least, for her, Serenity thought bitterly, it was.
Rei flashed her violet eyes over her right shoulder. Serenity was staring down at the stone pathway beneath her feet. The Princess of Mars smiled.
"You should have Minako show you the Moon Frisbee throw," Rei offered. "She's far more advanced than I am."
The corners of Serenity's mouth turned up as she raised her head to smile at Rei. The Martian noticed how the tears clung to Serenity's clear blue eyes.
"Don't cry, Serenity!" Rei whispered as she stopped walking. She took a step in front of the princess. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say--"
Serenity shook her blonde head furiously. A tear slid down her right cheek.
"I'm not upset at you Rei!" Serenity choked. She wiped the tear from her face. She sniffled. "It's just that I can't help but feel sort of helpless. You and Minako and Makoto and Ami are all learning how to protect yourselves and fight an enemy, and I am stuck in a room reciting the same old dates and names. "
"Which will be of use in the future!" declared the familiar voice of Princess Ami.
Both Rei and Serenity twirled around. Like Rei, the Mercurian was dressed in her blue and white senshi costume. Her bright blue hair glistened in the light of the afternoon. Rei and Serenity noticed that Ami cradled a large object between her arms. As the girl neared them, Serenity groaned. She recognized the item that Ami carried; it was a history book. Before departing with the Queen and the other Senshi, Sailor Mercury had instructed Princess Serenity to read chapters 92- 105 . Serenity now scrunched her face in repulsion, as though the text reeked of something foul and dead.
Princess Ami held the cumbersome book to Serenity's face. A small smile of
amusement crept over her as she uttered, "I found this unattended in the library. Aren't you supposed to be studying?"
Serenity rolled her bright blue eyes toward the heavens. A deep sigh escaped from her lips. Trust Ami to keep her on task. "My eyes were tired from reading," she muttered.
"But you aren't even three pages into chapter 93," Ami replied. "Sailor Mercury told me that you must read up until the death of Queen Serenity VII, which is covered in chapter 105."
"I've already read about it," Serenity snapped defensively.
"Then what happens?" demanded Ami. She raised her right eyebrow. Serenity
bit her lower lip and shrugged.
Ami sighed. Her ocean-blue eyes met Serenity's guilty gaze as she concluded, "You haven't read it."
"She's taking a study break!" snarled Princess Rei, snatching the offensive book from Princess Ami. She dropped the heavy volume carelessly on a nearby stone bench. Ami flinched at the abuse. Rei smiled. "I don't know about Mercurians," she hissed spitefully through her teeth, "but normal people need to relax a little. It's not natural for us to sit in one spot for countless hours without standing."
Ami's ocean-colored eyes did not falter. Swiping a hand through her glossy blue hair, she pondered, "Do study breaks usually last three hours?" Turning victoriously toward Serenity, she said, "That's how long it's been since I found your abandoned book."
Serenity opened her mouth to reply, but a voice from another position in the garden defended her actions.
"Cut Princess Serenity some slack!" came the declaration. Princess Makoto, clad in the green and pink sailor fuku of Jupiter, peeked her head around the side of a tall hedge. Makoto's face was flushed. She had been practicing her kicks in an isolated area of the garden. She smiled warmly as she greeted the three girls. The brunette's breathing was heavy and labored, but her green eyes sparkled.
"Why should the princess be cooped up in that stuffy, dusty library on such a beautiful afternoon?" Makoto inquired.
Ami eyed each of her opponents. Shaking her head, she muttered, "Sailor Mercury warned me that this would happen." She crossed her gloved hands across her chest as she added, "She said that after she and the others departed, that all of you would run amok."
Serenity laughed. "Amok? Abandoning my studies for a few hours is running ' amok'?"
"You were spying on us, Ami?" inquired Rei. Color filtered into her cheeks as she asked, "Did that rat Mercury tell you to keep an eye on us while she and Queen Serenity are away?"
Princess Ami bit the inside of her lip. When Rei put it like that, it sounded horrid and deceptive. Ami opened her mouth to respond, but another voice interrupted her.
"Ami wasn't spying on you!" came the confident, even tone of Princess Minako. She bounded down the pathway of the garden, her blonde hair dancing wildly behind her. The heart links of the chain dangling around her orange and blue senshi uniform swayed and jingled. Winking devilishly at Serenity, she grinned and declared loudly, "I was!"
She began to laugh. Ami, Makoto, Rei, and Serenity peered at her questioningly.
"What are you up to, Minako?" pondered Serenity. Of all of her friends, Minako was the worst at keeping a secret. Serenity could detect, merely from her red face factor, that Minako had been plotting.
"I saw you," Minako finally declared, swaying her figure from side to side like a hyperactive child.
"Who?" demanded Makoto.
"Serenity and Rei," Minako replied, nodding her head toward the two girls. It was then that Ami, always the quick observer, noticed that Minako's hands were tucked behind her back.
"What are you hiding?" Ami inquired, pointing a suspicious finger in Minako's direction.
Makoto, who was standing closer to the Princess of Venus than the others, attempted to look behind the blonde's back. Minako merely took a couple of quick steps backward and said, "Rei was trying to teach you the 'Moon Frisbee' throw, right?"
The curiosity in Serenity's bright blue eyes faded. Her gaze fell. "She was trying," Serenity muttered, "but I wasn't exactly learning."
"You can't expect to master a throw the first few times you try it," responded the ever-practical Ami.
"Just think of how long we have been practicing and training," Makoto offered.
"Years and years!" declared Rei.
Serenity silently nodded her head, not daring to look into the faces of her friends. She knew it was ridiculous to get so worked up over something beyond her control, but her heart ached in her chest. She kicked her feet against the glossy stepping stones of the garden.
"That's a part of it," Minako agreed. "But I thought a bit of a cosmetic transformation may help Serenity get more into character. What do you think?"
Violet, emerald, and aqua-colored eyes flashed dangerously at the Venetian Princess. Minako grinned at the suspicious expressions on her friends' faces.
"What are you proposing?" Makoto finally demanded.
Minako laughed gleefully. She mockingly pointed her left hand at Rei, Ami,
Makoto, and Serenity. As the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, the Venetian Princess produced the object that she had been concealing behind her back.
As Princess Serenity spied the object, a feeling of dread dropped like a boulder from her stomach to her knees. She could only see the pink jeweled top of the item sparkling in the afternoon light, but instantly Serenity recognized that the object was the Lunar Pen. Instinctively, the Moon Princess reached her right hand out to snatch the object from Princess Minako.
"Hey!" snapped the Venetian. Her triumphant smile disappeared.
The other three stared on curiously. Ami raised her right eyebrow. She could not help but feel as though she had seen the pink stick somewhere before.
Serenity wrapped her fingers tightly around the Lunar Pen. The object warmed to her touch. The pink jewel sparkled and glowed. A twinge of energy sang through Serenity's body. She shivered.
"Hey, is that the-" Makoto's voice trailed off. Her green eyes widened. Turning toward the Princess of Venus, Makoto shook her head. "Minako-chan..."
"I thought I sensed the energy of the Moon," Rei whispered. Her violet gaze glared at the blonde Venetian princess. "How in the name of Selene..."
Ami blinked several times. As she focused on the object, she finally uttered, "It's the Lunar Pen!"
Her four companions rolled their eyes at the blue-haired girl. Ami's round cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Mercurians were known for their astonishing intellect, and here she was, the last person to recognize such a powerful and legendary Lunar object.
In an attempt to save a bit of face, Ami said, very factually, "Access to the Lunar Pen is very limited. Even Sailor Mercury is not allowed near the corner of the Prayer Room where it is kept. How in Selene did you manage to procure it, Minako?"
Minako tossed her hair over her shoulder. Crossing her arms over the blue bow of her fuku, Venetian opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the Moon Princess.
"Sailor Venus has access to the Lunar Pen," uttered Serenity. She leveled her cobalt gaze to peer at the future leader of the Senshi. Minako snapped her mouth shut abruptly like a snapping turtle. "So the future Sailor Venus also has access to the Lunar Pen," Serenity finished, shaking her head at Princess Minako.
"You just took it?" Makoto questioned. "Why would you do such a thing?"
Minako sighed. "I saw you out on the steps with Rei," she confessed to Serenity. "Attempting the 'Moon Frisbee Throw,' and it didn't look right."
"Oh thanks," dryly responded Serenity, turning.
"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Minako stated. She took a couple of steps toward Serenity. Placing a gloved hand on the Moon Princess' shoulder, Minako continued, "It looked strange because you're Princess Serenity! Princess Serenity doesn't throw tiaras through the air to destroy youmas! Princess Serenity wears long flowing gowns and regurgitates rules and regulations for that old battle-ax Sailor Mercury."
"Hey!" defensively snapped Princess Ami.
Rolling her gaze back to the blue-haired princess, Minako quickly muttered, "No offense to your distant aunt, Ami, but she is an absolute war general, academically speaking." Minako focused her attention to Serenity as she further explained. "Princess Serenity is far too distinctive and demure to do the 'Moon Frisbee' throw." Eyeing Serenity's meek gaze, Minako said softly, "You know I am right. That's why you couldn't get it to work properly."
"What are you getting at, Minako?" snarled Rei impatiently. She noticed the tears glazing over Serenity's blue eyes, again threatening to fall at any moment.
"Only a Senshi can successfully perform a 'Moon Frisbee.' As the Moon Princess, Serenity has a lot of strengths and skills, but as Sailor Moon..."
"Sailor Moon!" gasped Makoto. Her ponytail tossed from side to side as she shook her head. "There is no Sailor Moon."
Rei, Minako, and Ami rolled their eyes at Princess Jupiter.
"That's what the Lunar Pen is for, baka," muttered Rei, playfully smacking Makoto on the back of the head. Makoto's emerald eyes pleaded with Ami's for answers.
"Makoto, you really need to be more attentive in class," the Princess of Mercury declared. "Minako stole the pen so that Serenity can transform into Sailor Moon."
"I didn't steal it!" a defensive Minako declared. The chastising looks of her companions made her cheeks flush. Doggedly, she uttered, "I just borrowed it."
"Well," snorted Ami, "Whatever you call it, you had no right to remove it from the Prayer Room. You should march right back to the castle..."
"Wait!" interrupted Rei as she held her arms up in the air. "This is intriguing. Would the Lunar Pen really transform Serenity into Sailor Moon?"
Minako shrugged. "I don't see why it wouldn't."
Four pairs of eyes--two blue, one green, and one violet--turned sharply toward the Princess of Mercury. Ami's eyes widened as she shook her head from side to side. "Don't look at me! I don't know everything!"
The girls turned to Serenity, who was staring at the sparkling pink object in her hand. Running her thumb over the top of the pen, the Princess of the Moon glanced at her four companions. Anticipation glittered in her eyes.
"What do I do?" the Princess whispered. She moved her wide saucer gaze back to the Lunar Pen.
"Wave the pen high in the air," Minako instructed, raising her own arm above her head. Serenity mirrored her movements clumsily. "Shout, 'Moon Power!' and what you want to morph into."
Serenity nodded. She raised her eyes to the object that she was now waving above her. Hope, fear, excitement, and dread clogged her throat. Swallowing hard, Serenity shouted, "Moon Power!"
The pen began to sparkle. Ribbons of light burst forth from each prism atop the pink jeweled cap of the Lunar Pen. The gold and pink light engulfed Serenity's form, hugging her with energy. The power released by the Lunar Pen caused Serenity's hand to shake as she attempted to hold onto it.
"Let go of it and morph!" ordered Princess Ami.
Serenity did as she was told, releasing her grip on the stick. Instead of shooting away from the Princess, the pen kept its vigil above her head, twirling quickly. Warm sparks showered down as Princess Serenity shouted, "Morph me into Sailor Moon!"
The energy intensified. A shaft of white hot light encompassed the princess. Of the four bystanders, only Makoto refrained from shielding her eyes. She wanted to be the first person in the universe to rest her gaze on Sailor Moon. Her green eyes watered. Her eyelids were begging to clamp shut against the pure light, but Makoto only blinked quickly.
As the energy faded and Makoto was able to see the outline of the princess, she moaned her disappointment. Already, she could tell that the transformation hadn't worked. She instantly recognized Serenity's familiar silhouette--the royal bun hairdo and all. Aside from the two strange, red glowing objects sparkling from those hair buns, Makoto didn't see anything different. She shut her eyes tightly, grumbling, "Well, maybe the pen is broken or something."
Ami, Rei, and Minako opened their own eyes, blinking to adjust to the light.
From their various gaping mouths, wide eyes, and heads shaking in disbelief, Serenity that knew she looked different. She held her arms out in front of her. Her hands were covered by white gloves that stretched up to a ribbon of red at her elbows. Serenity shivered and glanced downward. First, she spotted the red bow at the center of her chest. Placing her gloved hands across her collar bones, Serenity leaned forward to peer at the rest of her costume. A white, short-sleeved bodysuit hugged tightly against her form. A bright blue skirt--a darker shade of blue than Sailor Mercury's--flared out from her hips. The skirt ended at her upper thigh, leaving her legs exposed to the knees. Red boots, each kissed with a ribbon of white around the top, graced her feet.
Serenity glanced up at her dumbfounded friends. By this time, Makoto had opened her eyes again and discovered that her first conclusion had been incorrect. The pen had worked wondrously. The Princess had, indeed, become Sailor Moon. If there was any doubt, the pair of upturned yellow crescents at the tops of her boots indicated that Serenity was the Senshi of the Moon.
"Do I look like a Senshi?" Serenity whispered quietly, almost too afraid to speak. If this was a dream, she wanted to enjoy it. It would be a shame for it to be interrupted by Luna snapping at her to wake up.
"You're Sailor Moon," Rei uttered simply. "Your fuku puts ours to shame."
"Really?" Serenity squealed. She took a couple of quick steps forward, away from the shelter of the tall hedges and toward the Moon Castle.
"WAIT!" cried her friends, chasing after her. Serenity stopped abruptly and spun around.
"I have to look!" cried the Princess.
"You can't let the guards see you like this," Ami snapped.
"Ferro--no, Artemis would have all of our hides if he saw you dressed as a Senshi," warned Minako.
"And he would tell your mother," Makoto said.
Serenity shook her head. "But I have to see what I look like! This is sheer torture, knowing that you can see me as Sailor Moon but I can't!"
Rei's violet eyes twinkled. "What about your compact, Minako? It has a mirror, right?"
Minako smiled and reached into the pocket of her fuku. A silver, round compact, bearing the symbol of the planet Venus, sparkled in her hand as Minako pulled it from her uniform. She popped the compact open and handed it to Serenity.
The Princess peered into the small looking glass. Holding it at an arms- length away, Serenity could see bits and pieces of her costume. A pair of twinkling red orbs, trimmed with a pearl white rim, sparkled from each bun on her head. Instead of a the pair of customary pearls lining each side of her hair, a pair of feather clusters trimmed with pearls gleamed at the top of her golden bangs. Pushing her bangs away from her forehead, Serenity gasped. A tiara, complete with a dark rose-colored orb, covered the Moon symbol at the center of her forehead. She ran a finger along the tiara. Her free hand trailed down the side of her face to the red ribbon choker around her neck. She fumbled with the upturned crescent charm at its center, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What do you think?" questioned Makoto. "Not too bad for a Moon Princess, huh?"
"Not bad," agreed the Moon Princess herself, snapping the silver compact shut. Handing it to Minako, Serenity confessed, "I wish I see the entire outfit, though."
"Quick, Minako," Rei snorted, nudging the Princess of Venus in the shoulder, "Transform yourself into a full-length mirror!"
"Oh ha, ha," snarled Minako, pushing Rei back.
"That isn't a bad idea," Ami responded.
"Not funny, Ami!" Minako snapped peevishly. "I am not morphing into a mirror. No matter how many tests you promise to pass for me."
"Not you, but that," Ami stated, pointing a finger toward a large, pink marble fountain at the opposite side of the garden.
Serenity's bright blue eyes widened as she spied the large, rose-shaped basin of the fountain. Emerging from the center of the stone bloom stood a woman clad in a loose robe. Tucked underneath her right arm was slightly tipped pitcher, which spilled a small trickle of water into the filled pool below.
The fountain had always fascinated the Moon Princess. It was a gift from a former King of the Earth. The King had died centuries ago; he had been the last in a long, powerful lineage. Princess Serenity had heard from the servants that the King had given the fountain to her mother while he had been courting her; the large stained-glass window in the library was another of the King's gifts. The Princess had spent countless hours in the library, staring dreamily up at the tinted shards of green, blue and white-colored glass when she should have been studying. Noting the craftsmanship of the window or the fountain, Serenity pondered how the barbaric Terran people could create such delicate and refined pieces of art.
A smile crept across her lips as Serenity scampered quickly across the garden. Rei let out a squeal of surprise and threw a wary gaze toward the Moon Castle guards. Much of the garden was concealed by tall hedges, but the place where the fountain stood was purposely exposed. The large marble sculpture was easily visible from the front steps of the palace, which also happened to be where many of the guards were currently positioned. At this point, Rei fumed, Serenity may as well take a look at her reflection in the large pool at the front of the palace. Better yet, the Princess of Mars thought, Serenity could approach one of the guards, dressed as Sailor Moon, and ask them for a mirror!
"Mercury Bubbles Spray!" called out Ami. A thick fog engulfed them.
Rei grinned. Apparently, she was not the only one who worried about being watched.
"Oof!" the Princess of Mars grunted, as someone slammed into her back.
"Sorry!" said Minako, "I can't see a thing in this fog!"
Slowly, the princesses of Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter found their way to the fountain. Rei created a "Ring of Fire" around them, causing the mist from Ami's fog attack to dissipate the immediate area.
Serenity leaned her form over the edge of the fountain. The tips of her pony tails dangled into the pool of liquid. The trickle of water coming from the pitcher beneath the stone woman's arm disrupted the calm surface. It created small waves in the water, blurring the reflection of Sailor Moon.
"Can you freeze the water or something, Ami?" Makoto asked, noting the disappointment on Serenity's face.
Ami shook her head. "Freezing the water may damage the internal mechanisms of the fountain which cause it to work," she said factually. Running a gloved hand through her blue hair, Ami added, "But I may be able to manipulate the water."
Concentrating on the pool of liquid resting in the basin, Ami closed her eyes and held up her hands in front of her. Sailor Mercury had just begun to teach her young apprentice how to shift and move the water into different forms. Princess Ami had only been practicing on cupfuls; to manipulate such a large pool of water would be a challenge. Ami envisioned the liquid as a wide looking glass as she shouted, "Mercury Aqua Transformation!"
As if under a trance, the water slowly--and painfully, if Ami had been able to comment at that moment--lifted from its resting place and transitioned into a large, flat curtain. Ripples flowed through the makeshift looking glass as the Princess of Mercury shut her lids tightly and concentrated harder. She didn't know how long she would be able to keep the water in its present, unnatural shape.
The princesses of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter marveled over Ami's newest trick while Serenity twirled around in front of the temporary looking glass. Turning her back to the water mirror and glancing over her shoulder, she admired the neatly tied red bow at the base of her back, and the bright blue sailor sash slung over her shoulders.
"Sailor Moon doesn't look half bad," Serenity remarked, tossing a blonde ponytail over her right shoulder.
Ami, hoping that Serenity was finished admiring herself, let go of her control over the water. The blanket of liquid spilled immediately to the ground. Her unsuspecting friends suddenly found themselves splashed with a great deal of water.
"Hey!" snarled Rei. Her violet eyes shot daggers toward the future Senshi of Mercury.
"Sorry," Ami squeaked. "I don't know how to put it back yet."
"Serenity, why don't you try the 'Moon Frisbee' throw now?" suggested Makoto. She was wringing out her own green skirt. Small sparks of electricity danced around her, conducting itself through the water. Her companions noted the build- up of current and took a couple of wary steps away from her.
Upon Minako's suggestion--the wisest thing she had said all day, Rei muttered-the group retreated back to their original position in the garden. Just as Rei had instructed, Serenity grasped the center of her tiara. The jewel at its middle warmed upon being touched. The Princess of the Moon removed the golden disk from her forehead and balanced it on top of her right hand. The golden object glowed and began to spin.
Ami's eye wandered from Serenity's hand and up to her smile. The Mercurian grinned as she noted the excitement in Moon Princess' face. Ami's bright, cornflower blue eyes widened with wonderment. A flash of red light from those peculiar red objects on Serenity's head distracted Ami's attention. Obviously, Ami thought, those glowing orbs served some sort of purpose. But what? Ami's gaze wandered back to Serenity's face. It was then that Princess Mercury noticed that the upturned golden crescent had disappeared from Serenity's forehead. Ami bit her lower lip as she noted the peculiarity. Lunarians could disguise their moon symbols through a series of chants, but why would Serenity's symbol disappear when she transformed into Sailor Moon? Even when dressed as the Senshi, the planet symbols on the foreheads of Ami and the others remained. Why would Serenity's vanish?
"Moon Frisbee!" shouted the Princess of the Moon, throwing the twirling object with all of her might. As soon as the golden disk left her hand, it rotated a half-dozen times and fell against the ground. Serenity's smile fell instantly into a frown. At least, she mused silently, it hadn't clattered loudly against the marble steps as Rei's failed attempt at the Moon Frisbee had earlier. Dryly, she echoed her comment, "That didn't go very well, did it?"
The dejected, sympathetic looks her friends offered Serenity as she looked up from the fallen tiara did not cheer her spirits. They felt sorry for their poor princess, who couldn't even master such a simple attack.
"Maybe you didn't power up enough," suggested Makoto. She reached down to retrieve the tiara. Serenity grudgingly accepted the object. Rather than look up at her friends, Serenity kept her eyes on the tiara, admiring the simple craftsmanship of the golden disk.
"Or you weren't concentrating enough," Rei softly added.
"You may need more practice," offered Ami.
"Don't worry, Serenity," Minako piped in, "Perhaps the 'Moon Frisbee' isn't Sailor Moon's attack. Perhaps we should try a 'Crescent Beam,' or..."
"Stop it, Minako!" snapped the Moon Princess, throwing her tiara down at her feet. "I am not Sailor Moon! There is no Senshi of the Moon! The attack didn't work because this," she grasped the edge of her bright blue skirt, "isn't real! It's an illusion! Created by the stupid Lunar Pen. If there were a henshin stick for Sailor Moon, I could be Sailor Moon! But I can't."
Tears were flowing freely from Serenity's wide eyes. Her stained cheeks were bright red. The princess heaved as she cried.
"I'm sorry, Serenity," Minako uttered. She put an arm around the Moon Princess, "You've been so sad over the last few months, since Linnaus left, and I thought this would cheer you up."
"Well, it did," Serenity sobbed. "for a little bit."
Again, the bright red objects on top of Serenity's head began to glow. Ami, Makoto, and Rei glanced first from those strange orbs and then to each other. This time, the glowing objects seemed to directly effect Serenity, who suddenly wavered on her feet. Had Minako not been holding onto her, the Moon Princess would have surely fallen to the ground.
Serenity did not explain to her companions what had happened. A wave of negative emotion melted through her. The princess felt panic and dread fill her body. Something was terribly wrong. She felt as though a trespasser were beating against her chest, attempting steal her heart and soul. Gasping, she nearly fell to the ground again. It reminded her of the night of the Terran Eclipse, but the threat felt even closer. She glanced toward the Palace. Somehow, she knew the threat was inside, creeping through the hallways and corridors...
"Serenity?" cried Makoto, softly patting her hand. The Moon Princess broke out of her trance and glanced back at the others. Blinking, Serenity tried to smile.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I got a little to worked up."
"Are you going to be all right?" asked Rei nervously. Her sixth sense detected a great level of panic and unease in Serenity.
Instead of telling her friends of the pain racking her body, Serenity just shrugged and muttered, "I am just tired. Too much excitement."
"Perhaps you should lay down?" suggested the ever-practical Ami, "I can tell Sailor Mercury that you weren't feeling well when she and the others return."
Serenity nodded quietly. She dreaded the thought of wandering back to the palace alone with such strange feelings still intruding her senses. Her imagination was definitely keeping her on her toes this afternoon. She made several steps toward the direction of the palace when Rei's reprimanding voice stopped her.
"Baka!" the Princess of Mars shouted. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Rei motioned toward Serenity's costume.
The Moon Princess' face reddened. She held the pen out and untransformed. Holding the Lunar Pen in her right hand, Serenity declared, eyeing Minako, "This is going back to the Prayer Room, where it belongs."
Her luminescent gown swirled around her slight form as Serenity turned toward the castle. As Princess of the Moon disappeared behind the hedge, Ami turned the group, her aqua blue eyes widening as she whispered, "I don't think that Serenity can be Sailor Moon."
"Why not?" pondered Minako. "We're all princesses from our respective planets."
"And because of that," pointed out Makoto, "We are able to be Senshi."
"Her Moon symbol disappeared," uttered Ami. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefingers. If only she had access to Sailor Mercury's computer, Ami may be able to trace the energy levels of the Moon Princess when she was Sailor Moon. Ami was both fascinated and flustered by the recent turn of events. Obviously, the Lunar Pen could only turn Serenity into Sailor Moon if such a Senshi existed at all. And what Makoto said about only princesses being turned into Senshi made sense. So why did Serenity lose her Moon symbol? Ami groaned. The Mercurian would not be able to rest until she sought out the answer to this question. Since the girls had been doing something they should not have been doing, Ami would not be able to seek out the opinion of the much wiser, far more experienced and insightful Sailor Mercury.
Glancing up at her companions, Ami saw that her concern did not wash over the entire group. Makoto was playfully throwing electrical charges at Rei and Minako, who were successfully--yet clumsily--dodging her attacks. Makoto was glad to be rid of the extra build-up of energy caused by the earlier douse of water; Ami giggled as she watched the honey and raven haired girls tumble against the lawn or leap high into the air to avoid Makoto's assaults.
Minako finally managed to get out of the line of fire. "Venus Love Me Chain!" the future Senshi of Love shouted out. Golden heart-shaped links materialized. With skill that came from much practice, Minako managed to catch hold of Makoto's right wrist with the sparkling chain. Makoto's hand had been poised in the air to throw another lightening shock in Rei's direction.
"Hey!" squealed Makoto. "No fair!"
Makoto attempted, with her great strength, to throw Minako off of her feet by tugging furiously on the heart-linked chain. Minako released her hold and Makoto fell to the ground, laughing.
At least, Ami thought to herself, they were actually practicing like they were supposed to. Smothering an amused grin, the Mercurian turned to the huge history book she had carried out to the gardens. Perhaps somewhere, on one of the yellowed pages of this huge volume, there would be mention of Sailor Moon. Like a true Mercurian, Ami needed answers. She sat down on the cold marble bench and placed the book in her lap. As she fumbled through the great volume, Ami traced the pages for any information which mentioned a Senshi of the Moon.
******
End of Chapter 5
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Okay, so what did you think? Loved it? Despised it? Made you squirm with unease? I don't know why it would make you squirm, but if it did, let me know. I appreciate reviews, so please take a moment to write one. Thanks!
Hollie (holliedaye@hotmail.com) July 2003
Return for Chapter 6: Jaded