Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me and I do not make any attempt at all to try and claim it as my own work. Thank you!
Review Thanks:
Sparkiling Moon Phoenix: Thank you very much for the kindness … although I hope you will continue liking this story after this chapter … I'm so very stressed it probably isn't too good … just warning you … aaaahhh!! Can you feel my stress?? Anywho, all I really wanted to say was thank you and I hope to see you review again!!
Tommy Oliver Brachio Black: I wish you lived in NZ!! I would soooo send you a cookie or something! Thank you for your continual support!! From your silent reader … (I hope you've updated!)
Eternal Emi-Chan: I am SOOOOO VERY SORRY I wasn't able to fulfill your wish in this chapter, but do not worry, you will see him VERY SOON!! I PROMISE!! I hope you can hold on until then!! Thanks again friend!
A general thank you to the reviewers and readers!!
And so, without further ado, I present to you
Chapter 7: Unexpected Visitors
Shigeru took in a deep breath as he lowered his eyes.
"If it has anything to do with that Kaede girl then do not waste your breath, we already know," the silver-haired senshi interrupted, sipping her juice coolly.
Shigeru's eye widened as he looked to up meet the green eyes of she who spoke.
She smirked.
Shigeru reddened.
"Excuse me? What I am about to tell you has absolutely nothing to do with Princess Kaede …"
"Well from what we have heard from her we would expect your news to be so," the brunette spoke with a small smile.
"Kaede? When did you see her?" Shigeru demanded, sidetracked from the true topic of his news.
"We passed her chamber on our way here. She tells us that you two have been discussing a possible alliance between our kingdoms in the form of a marriage," the dark haired senshi, the leader of the trio, responded.
"Is this true?" the brunette asked.
Shigeru shook his napkin, dabbing his untainted lips lightly with closed eyes.
"As I said before, what I intended to tell you before had nothing to do with Kaede but if you insist …" he began as he lowered the napkin, opening his eyes.
"I have yet to find a bride here and while I am here my main priority is to become educated with the history of the universe. My bride will come in the form of my true love, I need only find her," he concluded as his eyes softened.
And I think I have, but I'm still not sure …
The captain senshi watched Shigeru's handsome face.
He is still young and handsome. Any princess would be more than willing to make him theirs; I only hope that for the sake of the Kingdom he finds the right one …
"Well Shige if that was not your intended message then what is it? I am intrigued now," the silver-haired female spoke as she straightened.
Shigeru nodded as he reached into his pocket for the little trinket that lay there.
How to tell them that the Ancient Sailor Starlight, the founder of our Kingdom, has gifted me with her power in which I can therefore not go home until what I have destined to do is fulfilled …
Shigeru grimaced.
What I just thought sounded good…
Nodding to himself Shigeru returned his attention to the senshi.
"I cannot leave the Celestial Kingdom …"
::X:X::
Hikaru moved quickly down the empty halls.
Sunlight seeped in through the open hallway where, beyond the Palace gates, the Citadel lay still. It was a stark contrast to the week before when the attacks on the Palace sparked a mass evacuation of the entire planet.
Safe with some of their allies, the citizens of the planet would return once the threat, whatever that was, was eliminated.
Turning a corner sharply with his mid reeling Hikaru paused outside the large wooden door with silver engravings in a descriptive language, and ancient one. In fact it was the subject of one of the legends that surrounded the Palace.
It was said that the inscriptions are written for the eyes of the One who will find and awaken the sealed power of the sleeping one.
Whatever that means Hikaru thought as he knocked once on the door.
"Enter Hikaru," came the melodic voice as the door swung open.
Hikaru entered silently, his eyes adjusting quickly to the bright light that bathed his sister.
Her fiery locks fell unbound to her waist, her golden eyes closed as she let the sunlights warm her cool ivory features.
"Every one has been evacuated; the Palace is empty of everyone but some students who will be leaving soon and a handful of servants. Our 1000 strong senshi army, however, are still in the west wing as they should be," Hikaru informed as he looked around the surprisingly bland room.
The marble floor glittered in the vast room, igniting the room in a warmth that drenched the walls.
He looked automatically to his right where, mounted upon the wall was a large portrait of the five Ancients.
He had made it a habit to visit her sister the least as possible in her rooms.
He had not been into the Queen's chamber since his mother's death.
To be quite honest he could not quite stand the Palace itself, the Palace that his wife had once loved so much.
Hikaru's fist tightened.
"Hikaru I feel I know who our enemy is," Celestin advised as she looked to her brother who looked back, loosening his fist.
"Who?" he demanded simply.
"Sailor Sealight."
The words made his gaze intensify upon his sister as he processed the information.
"Cele-"
"Brother before you try and tell me that it is not possible for an Ancient to be our enemy I must remind you of what we were raised upon! Our mother would give birth to the child from whom the Promise would come. For centuries we have known that there was the possibility of Sealight returning to haunt us all, after all she did not take the exile from the Kingdom lightly," Celestin explained as her brother continued to listen in silence.
"If what you say is true, how are we supposed to convince all the senshi that our enemy is an Ancient? This makes your job difficult sister, particularly when they believe that Sealight simply vanished into the galaxy. They do not know the history of how she actually returned with the intention of ruling the galaxy and how she was sealed and sent to the nether-ends of the Galaxy …"
Celestin pursed her lips as she turned away from her brother, closing her eyes against the warmth of the sunlight's rays.
"They do not need to know about that Hikaru. They are my soldiers, my rule and word is law. I will tell them of our enemy when the time is right," she spoke.
"And what time would that be Celestin? Once she attacks and obliterates you?" Hikaru demanded.
Celestin stiffened.
"Hikaru you know the Prophecy as well as I do and already it is being fulfilled. The weapons kept in the Secret Chamber have all begun to disappear and you know what that means."
Hikaru looked to his hands as he clenched his fists once more.
Of course I know. The only time the weapons disappeared was when they had been summoned to battle, which therefore means …
"They're … they're awake?" Hikaru yelped.
Celestin smiled as she shook her head, her fiery locks bouncing as she did so.
"Not the Ancients themselves, their power. Somewhere out there are people who bear the power of the Ancients."
Hikaru closed his eyes as he lowered his hands.
"If that is so, sister, then I only hope that their power awakens in time to stop this threat," Hikaru murmured.
Celestin nodded.
"Have you made preparations then for your daughter?" Celestin asked softly as she turned to him once more.
Hikaru met her eyes.
"She refuses to leave us Celestin, you should know that," he responded.
Celestin's eyes softened as she smiled.
"Well Hikaru I do not want to see her leave but she is the future of this Kingdom, without her the Celestial Kingdom cannot go on," she reminded.
Hikaru shook his head.
"You talk as though we are to die tomorrow! Celestin Sealight's threat may be real but we still do not know for sure whether it is her or not … it could be anyone!"
Celestin frowned slightly.
"Then why is it that every time there is an attack on this palace her set of daggers in the Secret Chamber glow? They glow only when their possessor is near. That was what I experienced with Sunlight's sceptre before that disappeared. It glowed, as if sensing the owner nearby. I dread the day I return to that very chamber and I find those daggers are gone …"
Hikaru lowered his eyes.
Could the enemy really be Sailor Sealight?
::X:X::
Mei's eyes widened as she closed the book she read.
The library was completely silent, where even the slightest sound, like the sound of her shaking knees, was echoed for what seemed to be miles.
I know what must be done …
Nodding once to herself she stood, headed for the exit, her mind reeling.
Now to devise a plan ….
::X:X::
"That breakfast was absolutely delicious!" Usagi grinned as she pushed her empty plate away.
Pluto nodded as she lowered her eyes.
"Usagi we have to talk …"
Greeted by a sharp knock on the door, Pluto stood, her brow furrowed.
I made it clear to Seiko that I did not want any interruptions …
"Who is it?" she called as she stood by the door, her hand on the handle.
The reply was yet another knock.
Pluto opened the door swiftly, her glaring expression softening almost immediately as she stared at who stood at the door.
Usagi almost fell out of her chair as she stood, her ruby eyes wide.
"MAMA!!"
Pluto blinked several times as she grinned.
"Bu- I thought …"
Venus waved.
"Hey Pluto, missed us?" she grinned as Usagi flew into Serenity's arms, both pairs of eyes watering as they embraced.
"I've missed you too Usagi," she whispered as she held her for a moment longer.
All the Inner Senshi piled into the room with wide grins.
"Wow! Her room is bigger than mine!" Mars cried enviously as she looked around.
For Usagi, however, the happiness she felt could not be fathomed by words.
Instead of speaking, she simply cried.
::X:X::
Shigeru strode down the halls, the three senshi following him in a pensive silence.
I am not quite sure how I am supposed to show them the place I received the key when we are banned from that area of the castle …
As a scream sounded from the opposite direction, all four turned instinctively, hurtling to their left from which the cry sounded.
"Do not resist little girl, tell us, where do we find those who hold the power of the Ancients?"
Shigeru skidded to a halt as he glanced outside into the gardens to see Mei surrounded by five females identical to those who had attacked them a week or so earlier.
"MEI!!"
The female looked to him, her eyes narrowed as she threw her arms up in defence.
She knows she cannot transform …
Shigeru looked around for any sign of his senshi only to find them no where in sight.
Shigeru felt a warmth at his side and slipping his hand into his pocket he felt it hum.
If Kakuei can do it, I can also, no?
Pulling out the key he threw it into the air, watching it glow as he smirked.
"In the name of Astraeus, the Titan of Stars, I grant you, Mei, Starlight's power!"
Mei's eyes widened as a tunnel of light came for her.
"I accept! Astraeus Fire IGNITE!" she commanded as she disappeared into a hurricane of light.
Shigeru watched in total amazement as Mei appeared, transformed.
Her uniform was similar to Sunlight's uniform, with a strapless white top coupled with a silver skirt. The top was lined with silver, her chest without a ribbon. In its place lay a blue button that sat precisely in between her bosom. On the lower back of her skirt however lay a huge blue ribbon. While her heels were blue, her arms bore long gloves that ended at her elbow while her long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"In the name of the Elite Soldiers, you shall be punished!" she announced as she looked forward.
"Is that the power you spoke of?" the voice of one of his mother's senshi sounded.
Shigeru nodded absently.
"Help her please!" he requested as she nodded, calling the other two to follow her out.
Where is Usagi and Kakuei? We need help!
Shigeru lifted his eyes to the light blue sky.
Somehow he knew his assistance was on its way.
He only hoped they would arrive soon.
::X:X::
A/N: Sorry about the late update!! I have SOOOO many assignments this week (it is my last week of this semester at Uni) and I'm sorta struggling … please review and I simply APOLOGIZE for the content there, no doubt you can probably read my stress … oh well, enough babbling!!
Much love!!
Lady Sapphira