Chapter Forty – Six. Reflection
Rick took a bite of his dinner. He sighed as he was thinking about the events from the past week. It seemed like a shock to him, from the discovery of his new powers to him now a Quasanite and now living here in the Netherworld. A part of him was still conflicted but he was starting to believe that this was for the best.
"How did everything go for you today?" Jedda asked, pulling Rick from his thoughts.
Rick looked at her and gave a small smile. "It was pretty good. Izah helped me with what I needed."
"That's good."
"Something puzzles me though."
Jedda looked up at her boyfriend. "What's that?"
"I found out that there's at least two male and non Sailor Guardians to have Sailor Crystals." Rick answered. "They're from Earth as well as the planet Quasar."
"Earth and Quasar?" Jedda looked surprised.
"It's been said Quasar is a planet that has been destroyed a long time ago." Rick explained. "I always thought a Quasar was something powered by a supermassive black hole."
"That's still the case even though we now know there's a planet named Quasar that once existed." Jedda stated.
"That's true too." Rick nodded.
"I wonder who obtains the Quasar Crystal."
"I don't know about that but Mamoru is the holder of the golden crystal which represents Earth."
Then came another pause of silence. It seemed they were unsure of what to say at the moments.
Finally, Jedda took a deep breath and spoke up, "Rick, I talked to Mother today."
Rick looked up. "What did she have to say?"
"She wants to talk with you tomorrow." Jedda answered.
Rick looked up. He realized that this was it. He knew Hadea was wanting to get to know him at some point but was surprised it was so soon. "What does she want to talk to me about?"
"I'm not sure." Jedda shrugged her shoulders. "I guess you will have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out."
Months Ago
Hadea was surprised that she was not destroyed by the attack Sailor Saturn sent for her and that was thanks to the small pink haired Sailor Guardian who pleaded with her not to go with the plan to use the attack.
Then she looked towards where Jedda was and was relieved to know she was okay. She couldn't help but to notice that her boyfriend had kept her safe as the attack was dangerous and most likely could have destroyed them all.
The next thing she knew, one of her guards knocked the glaive out of Sailor Saturn's hands. Then another guard got out his golden rifle, prepared to eliminate the would be assassin. She looked in surprise as the two small Sailor Guardians dodged the attack, followed by the Phantom and the man dressed in a tuxedo and cape dodging the attack as well as Sailor Moon and LJ avoiding the attack.
Hadea was shocked to see the attack coming towards Jedda. If she had known this attack would end up like this, she would have told her guards to hold their fire. Seconds later, she saw Rick step closer to Jedda and he ended up being hit by the blast of the attack.
She was shocked by this outcome as she saw him fall face down to the ground. Then she looked as Jedda ran to his time, careful not to touch Rick as he had turned to stone. If she had touched him, he would have turned to dust. Hadea could tell that Rick Gordon was someone who would have done whatever it took to keep her daughter safe.
Present Day
Hadea looked up at the ceiling, pondering about Rick recently residing in the Netherworld with Jedda. From what she told her, Rick seemed to be adjusting to his new life here albeit he was still a bit conflicted about everything.
She was glad Rick was brought back to life after being turned to stone during her conquest. A few months after her reign ended, Jedda had informed her about Rick's powers which led her to the offer she gave as a chance to keep Rick safe from the grasps of Ming and even this Galaxia character that she had heard about.
Hadea was aware of Galaxia to an extent. Galaxia had destroyed many planets to create her own army. She figured keeping Rick safe in the Netherworld safe in the Netherworld was the best bet to keep him safe from her grasps. True, Ming had came to her former throne room in the past without her permission but her army was ready in case any enemy tried coming after her, Rick or those she held dear. No matter how powerful the enemy might be.
She then glanced towards the door. It was about time for her to have some time with Rick Gordon.
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Rick looked around his surroundings. He couldn't deny the view as it was quite beautiful and he wondered if all royals lived in a beautiful environment such as this. He had been pulled from his thoughts as the hovercraft came to a stop. He stepped out as guards awaited him. They each cleared as they didn't question why he was here.
Hadea must have informed them that he was coming. Rick thought as he made it to the last leg of the stairs where a well dressed woman awaited him. She guided him to the door where the Empress would be waiting for him.
"She is awaiting your presence here." the woman informed him. Rick nodded before walking into the throne room.
He entered the room and looked around in awe. The carpet was burgundy in color and it looked similar to what Hadea's former throne room looked like. Then he faced Hadea, who was dressed in a golden dress, golden crown and barefoot as usual.
"Jedda said you wanted to speak to me." Rick said, not really knowing what else he could say.
Hadea frowned in response and had her arms on the chair. "Why aren't you honoring decorum?"
Rick only stood there in silence. He nodded as he realized that he forgot that even though he was Jedda's boyfriend he was still supposed to kneel to her and call her by title. How silly of him?
"My apologies." Rick spoke up before he crossed the floor and got onto his knees.
"I sense that you have a bit of pride within you still." Hadea spoke up. "And other things that you need to overcome."
"What do you mean by that?" Rick scoffed.
"We are not enemies now." Hadea stated. "We are here mostly to make the Netherworld a better place. I am the Empress of the Netherworld and I look over different kingdoms, including this one here. You are here to keep your powers safe from enemies such as Ming the Merciless."
"Of course." Rick replied.
"The pride isn't as there as I suspect it used to be when you were younger but that does not mean you have other issues you need to overcome."
"As in?" he had some sort of feeling where this conversation was going.
"Your father had expectations from you." Hadea stated.
"Yes." Rick nodded. "My father is into adventure and I felt he wanted me to follow in that exact path."
"Is that what you are wanting? To be an adventurer like your father is."
Slowly, Rick shook his head. It was as if he had been holding back his thoughts on that matter for years. "I love piloting and adventure but I was always into computers and technology."
There was another pause of silence. He wondered what she was going to say next.
"Now tell me," Hadea asked, "what was life with your parents like during your childhood?"
"A lot of my childhood was at Mongo," Rick answered with hesitation, "and whenever I wasn't at Mongo, my parents would have me and my sister stay with my grandparents."
"And did that seem fair?"
Rick looked up for a second before quickly back down. It almost felt as if he had no reason to hold anything back from her. "Not really. I always felt my parents loved adventure more than they loved me."
"And what of your sister?"
"April was a great sister when we were kids," Rick answered before heaving a sigh, "but she always was determined to be the one on top and she hated being second best."
"And did that seem fair."
"No." Rick quickly answered. He loved his sister but deep down he knew her ambition had harmed their relationship at times because she seemed to be jealous of him at times because their father considered him as the favorite.
"I can sense that you have been content in following your father's footsteps when it comes to leading the Defenders." Hadea proceeded to tell him. "I am going to tell you something similar to what I told Jedda months ago. You have a choice in your life. You have a lover who is devoted to you and I am also here whenever you need me."
Rick was surprised by this. It seemed like just yesterday that they were enemies but now that she had been reformed, it seemed she was willing to be devoted to help him and others. At least that what it seemed to be.
"I can tell that you had something else on your mind." Hadea spoke up, pulling him from his thoughts. She wasn't wrong about that.
"I want to marry Jedda." Rick finally spoke up after a pause of silence. "I am wanting to commit and be there for her and the kids."
There was another pause of silence. He was nervous as he wondered what she was going to say but luckily he didn't have to wait too long for a response.
"I am aware of your family's history." Hadea spoke up. "However, it seems that you seem to be willing to commit."
"Yes." Rick nodded. "Jedda doesn't want her kids being without either parent and I feel the same way. I can't let the kids have an absent parent in their lives or go through what I went through."
"I can tell." Hadea replied. "There is a law here in the Netherworld regarding marriage. There is no such thing as divorce in the Netherworld. Once married to a royal the Netherworld, the marriage is eternal. You are married forever."
Rick wasn't surprised by what she had said. Even so, he wouldn't want to divorce Jedda. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Besides, he recognized this law in another certain planet. "Mongo has the same rules when it comes to marriage as well as my Dad and myself had witnessed with some of the people in Mongo."
"I am aware of that." Hadea stated. "When I ruled over the galaxy, I noticed that Mongo had those rules when it came to marrying a royal."
Another pause of silence filled the room. Then Hadea finally spoke up. "You may now rise, Rick."
Slowly, Rick stood up on his feet. "Thank you, Highness."
At first he didn't know why he said that but moments later, Rick felt as if he felt a bit more calm than he did when he first came here.
"It is no trouble." Hadea replied as she gave him a sincere smile. "Don't forget what I've told you today."
Rick nodded respectfully before he left the room. He walked down the stairs and made his way back to the hovercraft which would take him back to the Golden Kingdom.
On his way back to the kingdom, he looked around his surroundings and was thinking about his conversation with Hadea. When he came to think about it, it wasn't just Jedda that he could be there for. The Netherworld was a place that could use help from him. There was a lot that he could do for the Netherworld but he figured that he needed to take this one step at a time.
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to update. Life happens and not to mention, I had a hard time figuring out how this chapter was going to turn out. These last few chapters of Volume Five are going to be quite interesting.
A/N 2: I must say, writing the scene with Rick and Hadea was a bit more tasking than I expected but once I got to it, it turned out to be pretty good.
