Pride and Pandemonium
Chapter Five
At Hotaru's insistent urging, Nephrite whipped the horses into a faster pace. They were racing through the countryside in his gig, while Ami, Rei and Jadeite - occupying the buggy, raced behind them.
They had already been to Mansfield Park, which was the first place Hotaru suspected a wedding, but all they had found was a not so timid Unazaki ruling the roost over Helios and Artemis - and Hotaru had only had time to figure out that Artemis and Helios were meant to be Henry Crawford and Edmund Bertram before she jumped in the buggy and demanded to be taken to Northanger Abbey.
But she had wasted precious minutes in visiting the Manor, and now - would she be in time?
"You know, Miss Bennett," Nephrite said as he lashed the horses again, "I must tell you frankly that I greatly admire your courage and fine adventurous spirit - you don't meet with many girls who have that kind of mettle."
Hotaru blushed - her? Courageous? The idea!
"Thank you," she stammered, "I'm glad you think so."
"Yes," Nephrite went on, broodingly, "I haven't an idea where we are going or why, but I must say this is a fine adventure and I'm glad to be in it with a girl as plucky as you are."
"Oh," Hotaru smiled, but was saved replying as they drew up at the gates of Northanger Abbey. To her horror she saw that they were already decorated with lovely white ribbons and bows.
She jumped out of the buggy, leaving Nephrite to hastily hand the reins over to a lackey and run after her; Rei, Jadeite and Ami were not too far behind.
Hotaru raced through the crowd of servants and wedding guests, trying vainly to find the tent under which the ceremony was being held - of course if it were Makoto, it would be an outdoor wedding.
She skidded to a halt at the threshold of a large tent where a tall, beautiful girl dressed in a breathtaking white gown and veil stood beside a slight, but handsome young blond. The clergyman stood before them, sawing out his heavy words:
"If anyone knows of any impediment..." he droned on.
This was the moment. Hotaru took a deep breath and opened her mouth -
"This wedding cannot continue," a much deeper voice than hers boomed behind her.
Hotaru shut her mouth with a surprised snap and looked up to see that Nephrite was standing stock still, staring at the couple at the end of the aisle. Everyone, naturally, turned to look at the cause of the interruption - including the bride and groom.
"And just what do you think you are doing?" A peeved, outraged voice chimed.
Hotaru quavered as she found a very angry, very beautiful Makoto - her veil thrown back over her back - glaring at both of them with a frightening glint in her eye.
"I'm sorry," Nephrite apologized as he continued down the aisle toward her, ignoring everyone else, "But I simply can't allow it to happen."
What is he doing? - Hotaru wondered. She was about to trot after him to warn him but Rei caught her elbow.
"Wait," the older woman whispered. She didn't even flinch as Jadeite put a hand on her back to steer them closer to the side of the aisle.
"Who are you?" Motoki, for that was who the groom turned out to be, asked in an imperious manner.
Nephrite looked down from his great height at the rather diminutive Motoki and smiled grimly. Motoki seemed to shrink somewhat beside him.
"I," Nephrite said, calmly, "am Captain Frederick Wentworth, her future husband."
Makoto and Motoki were so flabbergasted neither could do anything but stare at him - which is what half of the other guests were doing.
"Love at first sight?" Rei whispered, skeptical.
"It is not an entirely unknown phenomenon," Jadeite countered, speculatively.
"You must be mad," Makoto declared and raised her bouquet to smack Nephrite but he caught her arm gently and pulled her into a kiss instead.
That was when everything fell apart of course.
The wedding guests jumped to their feet - some in hysterics, others shouting in anger for their servants to bring their swords and guns - duels were announced in loud, blusterous voices, and a few ladies giggled for all they were worth.
"I think we'd better leave before the party becomes positively - erm - unhealthy," Ami suggested quietly. She seemed very sad, but as always, utterly rational.
Jadeite grabbed Rei's arm and Hotaru's hand and pulled both of them toward the buggy.
"But, wait!" Hotaru cried, "What about Neph -I mean Wentworth?"
"Oh, I think he can manage," Jadeite called, cheerfully.
"Indeed," Rei added, darkly - noting that Nephrite and Makoto had not yet ended their interesting public display of affection.
"Besides," she continued, looking at Hotaru, "It's time you and I returned home, I think."
"Oh, dear," Hotaru sighed.
The first person to greet them on the street back to the Bennett home was not Seiya, Mamoru or the Royal Guard Hotaru had feared - it was, instead -
"Haruka!?" Hotaru gasped, spotting the tall blond dressed in a red dress uniform, top boots and spurs.
Haruka heard their arrival and turned on the large gray she was riding to touch her hat to them.
"Good afternoon, Miss Bennett and Miss Bennett," she called, gaily, "And who is that you have with you?"
Jadeite stopped the buggy so that they could all speak more conveniently.
"I am George Knightley," he replied, nodding to Haruka, "And this is a friend of ours, Miss Elliot. Of course you already know Miss Kitty Bennett - and my fiancee, Miss Elizabeth Bennett."
They all turned to look at him as one - shock etched plainly on their faces.
"I beg your pardon?" Rei hissed, her cheek bright red.
"Oh, wonderful!" Haruka replied, "I didn't know you had become engaged Miss Bennett! Congratulations."
"But I'm not -" Rei began but Jadeite slyly bumped the back of her knee, causing her to sit down on the buggy seat with a smack.
"Well, I am Mr. Wickham," Haruka explained, "And I am just on my way to visit your illustrious family, Miss Bennett, so allow me to accompany you to the gate."
Rei remained silent, though the glances she threw Jadeite's way were nothing short of murderous.
Arriving in the park their conversation halted as they heard raised voices, several females screaming, and saw Michiru come rushing into view.
Haruka frowned and, careful to hold her cavalry sword out of the way, dismounted at once.
"What is the matter?" she demanded.
Michiru rested a hand on her arm to steady herself.
"I'm so glad you have come back," she exclaimed, "Not less than two hours ago, a strange man arrived and demanded speech with our visitors - Miss Dashwood and Mr. Darcy. I had left the two in the solarium, since they seemed to get along so well - but now the young men have quarrelled about something and mean to have duel to settle it in our backyard!"
"The devil they do," Haruka growled, putting a hand on her sword, "How dare they inconvience you, Miss Bennet!"
Michiru blinked, unused to this serious tone from Haruka, who was more wont to flirt ridiculously with every member of her family rather - certainly she had never seen her in this state before.
"Do not worry," Haruka assured her, kissing Michiru's hand, "I shall certainly set them straight."
Michiru stared as Haruka then proceeded to stalk off in the direction of the backyard, her hand resting meaningfully on the hilt of her saber.
"Oh, dear," Michiru murmured, "I think I have been a bit mistaken..."
Hotaru heard this muttered, puzzling phrase, but decided there was no time to pursue it.
She promptly raced off after Haruka. Jadeite, Rei and Ami ran after her, leaving Michiru to stand in the yard with a dazed look still on her face.
"Wait just a moment, Kitty!" Ami cried, desperately, "You may be hurt if you are not careful!"
Suddenly a shot rang out - more than one person screamed, and they all heard a large thud.
Rounding the corner, fearing the worst, Hotaru saw - to her astonishment - that Haruka was holding Seiya firmly in her grasp while Mamoru was looking down at the ground in alarm. From somewhere near the trellis, Usagi appeared and ran to his side. He stole an arm around her, almost without knowing he did so, and murmured something encouraging in her ear - then dropped his unused pistol and knelt beside a prone figure in the grass.
"Oh, no!" Hotaru shrieked, running for all she was worth. There on the ground lay Zoisite, bleeding out of his shoulder most profusely.
"Now see what you've done!" an angry voice hissed. Luna/Jane Austen stood before her in all her terrible, wrothfull glory.
"No," Hotaru uttered, hotly, defying Luna's gaze, "This is all your fault! If you had just let them work it out for themselves, none of this would have happened."
Luna blinked, and seemed to fizz up like a hairball.
"I?" she cried, "It is my fault!?"
"This is the final straw!" she spat, "I wash my hands of you - it is already too late to save the story in any case!"
With that she jumped three times on the ground and disappeared.
Hotaru looked down at Zoisite's pale face, observing the care Mamoru took in removing the the other man's coat and shirt collar so that he could see the wound.
"I told the damn man not to be a fool," he muttered, "But he would try to come between us. That Willoughby is a duece of a bad shot!"
"Oh, he is dead!" Usagi wailed, "Whatever shall we do!? Oh, this is most dreadful - such a young man - in the prime of life!"
"Kindly tear off the hem of your dress," Mamoru asked her, calmly.
Usagi blinked her tears away and frowned.
"It is a very expensive gown and one of my favorites," she commented, "But I shall certainly sacrifice it for the life of such a valiant man as Mr. - er, Mr. - um..."
"Bingley," Mamoru supplied, "The dress, my dear?"
"Oh, yes," Usagi replied, happily, "Mr. Bingely, now I quite remember. Here, my love."
She handed him a swath of fabric that was far too short and wide to be of any use at all. He gave a long suffering sigh, and was about to tear something from his undershirt when a quiet voice said:
"Here, use this."
Hotaru discovered that Ami had arrived and was bending over their little gathering with a calm and unruffled countenance. She handed Mamoru a long swath of blue material which he proceeded to wrap around the shoulder.
"It is fortunate that the bullet has gone straight through his shoulder and out the back," she explained as she knelt to get a better look, "It will save you the effort of retrieving the ball. Here, allow me."
She took over the bandaging from Mamoru and proceeded to expertly bind the wound. As she finished tying the knot, Zoisite's eyes fluttered open and settled, somewhat dazedly, on Ami's face.
"Ah, an angel," he murmured, smiling, "I am in heaven then?"
Ami smiled in spite of herself.
"You are quite alive, sir," she replied, "And apt to discover this fact as soon as you have recovered somewhat."
"Well, I won't complain," he chuckled, weakly, "For if you are not an angel, I need have no fear of blasphemy in worshiping you as a woman."
"He is quite out of his mind, I see," Ami decided, blushing.
They lifted Zoisite gently and carried him into the house, all the while listening to him babbling about angels and blue heavens.
Hotaru sighed, looking around her at the disheveled lawn.
She had almost gotten used to this way of life - it was much slower, and much prettier, she admitted.
"Well, you've done a job today, haven't you?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"I have," Hotaru replied, proudly, "I am well pleased with myself."
Chibi-Usa smiled at her friend and slipped a sisterly arm around her waist.
"Why can't you always be this much fun?" she teased.
Hotaru was about to reply when a loud clap of thunder tore through the sky. She blinked her eyes...and woke up.