Ad Ultimum
Chapter I

Focus: Chibiusa/Hotaru
Timeline:
Alternative Universe.
Summary:
It is said that from peace is bred friendship. What happens, then, when the Princess of the Moon meets a girl named Hotaru during a time of political unrest?
Disclaimer:
I do not own Bishoujo Sensei Sailormoon or any of the recognizable characters in this fiction. You're looking for Takeuchi Naoko.

UPDATE (7.21.2016): This fic is in the process of being resurrected. There will be minor changes here and there as I try to conform this fic to my current writing style (honestly, this means breaking up several paragraphs) and my new vision for the story. Chapter 4 will be deleted and replaced once I have finished revising these chapters, and a less hammy title will be assigned (lmao). This may end up taking a while, but please bear with me. Any changes to the storyline will be summarized in the new Chapter 4. Thank you~


Friendship and Peace go hand in hand,
Like innocent trusting children.
Where there is friendship, peace abides.
And where there is peace, friendship flourishes.

— Richard W. Callahan


She would never make it on time. Standing in front of her mirror, Princess Tsukino Usagi Small Lady Serenity ran her fingers hurriedly through the damp mess that was her hair. An uncharacteristic twitch stayed lodged at her brow, a result of her friend's failure to wake her two hours after sun-up. Now look at this! the Princess raged, abandoning her pink strands to search for a proper comb. It's almost noon and I'm still busy fixing up my hair! In her agitated state, her hand accidentally knocked over her jewelry box and sent it flying off the dresser. She reached out instinctively for the box, but her reflexes proved too slow and it resumed its downward path, ending with a magnificent crash. She stared at the gold on the floor before snapping to her senses and calling for her personal servant.

A girl of her age, red hair tied back in a single ponytail, appeared immediately at the door. "Yes! I'm here, Princess! Wha—What happened?!" she demanded, stumbling as she ran over to her charge. She grabbed a hold of her right hand and directed the Princess' attention to the cut decorating the palm. "Y-You're bleeding, Usagi-chan! W-We have to take care of it right away! I think I—"

"Stop it, Momo-chan!" Small Lady snapped, taking back her hand when Momoko started to tear off the end of her sleeve. She wasn't in the mood for this kind of nonsense when there was someone waiting for her, had been waiting for her for the past hour or so. "It's not even a deep cut and I certainly won't be dying from it. Just get this cleaned up. And find my comb. Dry my hair. Find a dress!" Her eyes, a shade of red, widened as she realized exactly how much she had to get done. "Oh my... I haven't even found anything to wear yet!" The Princess whipped around and literally flung herself into the closet, ignoring the mess she would have to return to later. "No no no no no no no! Turn back time! Just stop it!"

She knew that she was acting out of character, adopting an eccentric manner unbecoming of a Princess. She had a reputation for being one of the most composed young nobles around, having absorbed readily all the masters of etiquette had to offer, but everything was thrown to the side when she thought of him. She thought about his kind smile, his gentle heart, and she was immediately transported to a world of tranquility, a world where she could gaze into his eyes forever. Small Lady was only twelve, at an age where she could perfectly accept the frenzied obsessions associated with falling in love. She had fallen from him hard and the thought that she could not present herself to him—when his busy schedule finally allowed—was enough to shatter her. She wanted to see him. She wanted to see him and here she was, looking like a pig and screaming like some madwoman.

What am I doing...? She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She was late; there was nothing she could do about that. If she was going to be late, she should at least have the grace to greet him at her best. Small Lady walked over to where her friend knelt, picking up the assorted gems, and joined her. Afterwards, Momoko busied herself straightening out the tangles in her long pink hair while the royal herself focused her attention on the various dresses hiding in the back. She was helped into one she deemed perfect for the occasion—neither frilly nor too casual—and, after a slight bout, fixed her hair into the odango-style she had modeled after her mother's. Small Lady had to grow out her hair just to get rid of that "puffy" she had as a child, and now the tips brushed a few centimetres past her shoulders. She apologized to Momoko for causing such a strange scene and promptly flew into the crowded hallway.

The swirls of whites, blacks, and blues did little to accommodate for the young girl weaving through their disorderly paths. The castle was always busier when meal time came around, when the servants would rush to complete their duties so that they could enjoy their food with peace of mind. Their rushing, however, was only problematic for the Princess, and she struggled to maintain a presence amongst all the body contact and cries of apology. She largely ignored it all, forcing her aggravation aside and focusing her gaze straight ahead. Two hours had passed since their appointed time. Her teachers would collapse in shock if they heard of it, but he was different, always ready with an understanding smile and warm embrace. It hurt.

Small Lady picked up her pace and narrowly missed ramming into someone with an armful of tomatoes. She spun off to the side with a quick apology and nearly crashed into someone else, this one carrying a basket of laundry. She regained her balance as she apologized to the disappointing look and proceeded forward, trying to be extra careful this time. She felt a tug on her arm and stopped abruptly in her tracks, turning to watch that same laundry girl stumble past her and fall to the ground, scattering the numerous garments. What surprised her most, though, was the fact that the tug on her arm returned and dragged her down into the basket. The stench of sweat and dirt filled her nostrils and the Princess pulled back immediately, her face twisted in disgust. It was almost certain that the smell had transferred to her own body and when she thought about how long she had prepared, she was ready to lash out at the underling. However, once she came face-to-face, the sight silenced her voice.

The servant was a girl who looked around her age and currently lay on her side, allowing the Princess a full view of her features. Her dark hair splayed over her face in a rather crude manner and contrasted with the surprising fairness of her skin. Her eyes were welded shut, her teeth were gritted, and when the Princess listened closely a pained breath could be heard. She forgot her anger and moved to help the other girl, but was interrupted by a forest of arms and a swarm of heads that inquired repeatedly about the condition of her health.

"I'm fine," the Princess insisted, trying to push them aside. "More importantly, is she okay? It looked like she came down pretty hard." She struggled to make her way over to the other girl and found herself unable to escape the vines of concern; they seemed to restrict her to the center of their attention, keep her away from that girl. Her rational side mentioned something about her being melodramatic, but she couldn't help from feeling like she was being suffocated. "Let go!" she demanded finally and the chains snapped back, even clearing for her a path. The girl sat at its end, a hand clutching her right arm and her breathing heavy. Her clothes were still disorderly and took after the example set by her cloak, this particular article a symbol of her status among the servants.

"Are you all right?" Small Lady had approached the girl and now knelt before her, staring upward. "I'm terribly sorry for making you fall. I didn't mean to..." she trailed off, realizing that she really didn't know why the girl had tumbled after her in the first place.

Their eyes finally met and the Princess had to pause for a while to catch her breath. The amethysts that peered out at her were beautiful, incredibly deep and incredibly clear. They seemed to mock a gateway to all knowledge and the Princess sensed a whirlpool at its entrance, ready to engulf anyone who dared venture near. Her eyes told her that she was a person who would never let her guard down, yet somehow the Princess could glimpse a dim flame hiding in the back. Why did that fire look so tragic, so familiar and endearing? She wanted to reach out and touch it, but that whirlpool roared and she instinctively pulled her hand away.

The girl shook her head and suddenly guided her hand to Small Lady's arm. The rubies watched as she unhooked the corset that was dangling from her sleeve and showed it off. Small Lady looked down and was surprised to see that there was indeed a tear in the fabric. "It got caught earlier and I was trying to free it," she explained. "It was by no means a fault of your own, Princess. For thinking only of the consequences as they would apply to me, I am to blame. I apologize for my selfishness."

The corner of Small Lady's mouth hinted at a frown. "What do you mean? You're injured, aren't you?" To prove her point, she reached over to touch her shoulder and was caught off guard by how fiercely the girl recoiled. The pain that flashed before her eyes struck at her heart, and she apologized immediately. "T-That was thoughtless of me. I didn't mean to do it...! I-I-I'll take you to the infirmary!" The Princess moved to her good arm and tried to get her to stand, but the girl was being uncooperative and the Princess' inferiority in height did not act like an effective lever.

"Princess, I do not require this," the girl insisted through her teeth, trying to pull away. "It is only a bruise."

"No! I said I'll take you to the infirmary and that's that!" Small Lady tugged hard in the opposite direction and almost toppled over when she was relieved of the weight she was pulling. A servant who had been among the other spectators, a young man, had finally taken the initiative to assist his princess and now the girl was in his arms, staring with a bewildered expression.

"Princess, I believe you wished to have her brought to the infirmary?" he asked, ignoring the girl's requests to be released.

"Y-Yeah. Thank you." Small Lady stared, not quite sure what just happened, but she composed herself and started down the hall. "I'll escort you." In truth she wanted to be the one to help the girl there, but it was clear that her will was far greater than her strength. She tried a smile, which was answered with a shying of the amethysts.

With the spectacle at its end, the crowd dispersed and the hall was once again characterized by hurrying footsteps. As she made her way through, Usagi's eye found the sunlight and a quick glance to her left exposed the courtyard. This section of the castle faced the greenery reserved for more relaxing and recreational activities so large pillars of stone stood in place of a solid wall. The view this provided was remarkable and embraced a connection between those of all social status. Anyone could admire the flowers growing violet, red, and white in the garden, and the water fountain—in the shape of a crescent—was free for all to see. A grove of oaks lined the wide perimeter of the wall and the grass was littered with the few servants who had caught up with their schedules. The Princess stifled a laugh when she saw two pages topple each other into the pond and looked back to check out the reactions of her companions. The man was staring straight ahead but the girl had seen what she'd seen, and her eyes stayed the same.

"Just lie her down on one of the beds," the Princess instructed as they entered the room. Being a centre of health, it was no doubt the cleanest area of the castle and patient beds were always in abundance. "And I thank you for your assistance," she added. "I wouldn't have been able to get her here without it."

"There is no need for such words. It is my heartfelt wish to serve my Princess." He responded with a bow of his head and came to an abrupt stop when he looked back up. "Princess Mercury! Good morning! I..." The man looked around almost frantically, trying to figure out what he should do with the girl he was holding so a proper greeting could be initiated. It was obvious that he was nowhere expecting this sudden turn.

The blue-haired woman smiled and put down the clipboard she was holding. "Don't worry about such formalities, kind sir. It is enough that you have been victim to our Moon Princess' whims; to inconvenience you any further would be disrespecting your rights to a lunch break." She walked up to them, her light blue dress a stranger among all the white-donning staff. She herself, however, was a common sight here whenever she visited, going over medical procedures and assisting wherever possible. It was incredible how well-versed she was in such matters, considering that she was destined to lead a life of politics.

"The compliments you lavish upon me soothe the very depths of my soul." Usagi finished off by sticking out her tongue playfully before returning the woman's smile. "Good morning, Ami-san. How have you been?"

"Just fine," she reassured, reaching over to pat the twelve-year-old on the head. "I was in a meeting with your mother this morning and it ended on a rather good note. Oh, did you grow since the last time we met?" Receiving a positive answer, Ami turned to dismiss the man attending them and finally registered the person in his arms, who had been busy trying to bury herself in his chest. Her eyes grew in surprised recognition. "Hotaru-chan?"

The girl stopped fidgeting with a disgruntled noise and turned to face the woman, hiding a tinge a red behind her hair. "Mer—Am— ...Princess Mercury." She took advantage of the man's still dazzled state to escape and set herself down. It was just for a split second, but Usagi thought she saw her stumble as her feet touched the floor. Her eyes found Ami's with the comfort of an equal—no, there was something cold about those orbs—before she succumbed to the requirements of status and bowed. "Good day."

"So I was right—oh, you may leave now. Thank you very much—but why are you...?"

Usagi walked over to the girl's side—Hotaru, she would remember that. "We were involved in a little incident and she ended up hurt as a result. I-I was the one who forced her to come here so if that was a bad thing, I'll accept the responsibility for it."

Ami redirected her surprise at the young Princess. "No, Usagi-chan, that's not what it is. I just wasn't expecting to see her today, that's all. If she's hurt she's more than welcome here, and I thank you for taking it upon yourself to bring her. You didn't do anything wrong. Hotaru-chan, where are you injured?"

"A minor injury," Hotaru dismissed, maintaining eye contact almost stubbornly.

"Her right shoulder," Usagi offered. "And I think she twisted her ankle too." The addition came like an afterthought and immediately attracted attention from the other girl. The Princess returned the look with an apologetic nod.

Ami smiled and asked Hotaru to pull down the neck of her shirt, a request to which the girl obliged with minimal resistance. The young woman moved closer to inspect the slightly pinkish area, taking her arm gingerly in her hands. Hotaru winced at the contact. As she watched them work in such close proximity, Usagi felt an uneasiness well up in her stomach. The feeling subsided a little when she explained it as a need for nutrition, but it still maintained an active presence. She tried to shake it off.

"You're right, it's only a bruise. Nothing that a little ice can't take care of anyways." The heir of Mercury set her hands aside and looked over at the Princess, who had to hurry to wipe the relief from her face. It was weird that she should be feeling relieved; she'd seen Ami treat others plenty of times before so the sight was nothing new. Maybe she was just worried that Ami would accidentally hurt the girl. "Usagi-chan, can you help her over to a bed while I get some ice?"

"Yes." Ami left for the back and Usagi promptly looped Hotaru's left arm over her shoulders. She tried to get her to lean completely on her so there wouldn't be any weight on her foot, and the slightly taller girl was once again obedient. The sensation of another body against hers was something of which the Princess was very conscious. She tried her best to keep her head clear as they made their way over to a nearby bed. The effort kept her attention to the emptiness of the infirmary—in fact, aside from a nurse in the corner, they were pretty much alone. The sheets were clean and lay undisturbed on the numerous beds, and sunlight passed unhindered to bring to the room a natural warmth. It was indeed a place with open arms.

"You're a kind one, Princess."

She had been silent for a while so the sound of her voice caught Usagi off-guard. It wasn't that the tone was hostile but there was certainly an edge, a sense of avoiding. As they had just met it was to be expected, but it didn't take long for the Princess to realize that it made her feel uncomfortable. "Really? How?" She turned to the side and noticed exactly how close Hotaru's face was, noticed how her bangs cut just short of her eyes and how the rest of her hair proceeded to frame her. Her eyes were beautiful like always, even when downcast, and Usagi had to remind herself to stop staring.

"You're young, but you take it upon yourself to see the well-being of a mere servant." Hotaru got off Small Lady and let herself down on the bed with a sigh. "Nobles do not usually go to such lengths unless they have a favour in mind." She paused abruptly and fixed the Princess with a frown in her eyes. "Do you have something from me that you wish to request?"

Usagi was taken aback. "No!" she insisted, perhaps a little too forcefully. "I was honestly worried about you! You may say otherwise, but what happened back there was my fault as much as yours—no, it was mine alone. If I hadn't been so distracted, had just been a little considerate about the people around me, I wouldn't have hurt you. I have to take responsibility for it, and if you make it seem like some under-handed move..." She cut herself off and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, keeping her eyes to the side.

Hotaru sighed and softened her gaze. "I apologize for my rudeness, Princess. I must ask your forgiveness for acting out of place and making an unfair generalization." Her voice sounded sincere but the use of such formal speech bothered the Princess, emphasized the distance that existed between them. "I should be gracious and instead I am plagued by a misplaced suspicion. I apologize once more."

There were no words at her disposal so Usagi just focused on keeping her hands still on her lap. The silence that they had managed to avoid for so long came rushing in, staining any pretense they had of a good acquaintanceship. The aura the other girl emitted was almost suffocating and the Princess wondered why she was still sitting there. Didn't she have something she had to do? Red eyes drew back tentatively to the deep purple pools, but Hotaru too had sensed the awkwardness and was busy studying her fingers. It amused the Princess to see the girl who had seemed so distant imitate her own behaviour. She smiled inwardly. That's right, she's a girl just like me.

"Hotaru-chan. Your name is Hotaru-chan, right?" Usagi laughed nervously when she suddenly looked up. "I mean, I can call you that, right?"

The dark-haired girl raised an eyebrow at the question but nodded. "You may address me however you like, Princess."

"Then... Taru-chan?"

The blush that coloured her cheeks coupled with her expression sent Small Lady into a fit of giggles. "Princess, that's a little..." Hotaru left her complaint unfinished and quickly turned her head to the side, lowering her head further into her chest. It took a while to compose herself and when she looked back up, Usagi could still see the red cracking a face struggling to stay serious. "I-If that's what you wish to call me, Princess, then you may do so."

"No, it's okay," Usagi reassured her, unable to keep from smiling broadly. "I shouldn't have played such a mean joke." An idea suddenly came to her and she couldn't keep herself from clasping Hotaru's good hand with both of hers, catching her completely by surprise "Hey, you're always calling me 'Princess' this and 'Princess' that. How about you call me by my name from now on? Let's be friends."

"Friends?" echoed Hotaru, sounding as if the concept was something strange and new. "No, before that. It would be disrespect of me to address the Moon Princess by her first name. Our social standings differ by too much and we must always hold them in regard."

Usagi frowned but it was quickly replaced by a mischievous smile. "So I can call you 'Taru-chan'?"

There was that reaction again. "I-If that is what you wish," she mumbled.

"I'm glad, Taru-chan." Her eyes were shining. "I was worried that you might actually hate the nickname 'Taru-chan,' but I feel so much better now that you'll let me call you that, Taru-chan. 'Taru-chan,' isn't that an adorable name? Flows right off the tongue too. Taru-chan, Taru-chan, Taru-chan. Rhymes with Haru-chan and Waru-chan. Mawaru-chan. Guru Guru Mawaru-chan." Usagi stuck out her tongue and laughed the names away. "Just kidding. Your name is perfect the way it is: Taru-chan."

The girl looked like she wanted nothing more than to disappear. Teasing her like this was fun, Usagi realized, and Hotaru looked incredibly cute when she was embarrassed. "Usagi-chan," she tested meekly and it looked like even this was a source of embarrassment for her. She tried to hide behind her dark bangs.

Usagi acknowledged her name with a nod and smile. "Hotaru-chan."

"Hotaru-chan. Usagi-chan."

The voice came out of seemingly nowhere and both girls immediately pulled away from each other, which resulted in the Princess yelping out in pain. She held her hand to her chest and waited for the stinging to subside before looking at the cut on her palm, opened after the sudden motion. Blood started to leak out and Usagi thought back to the panicked Momoko, the box that had cut her as she reached out for it, and finally the prince, whom she had been rushing to see. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. She stood up quickly, ignoring the concerns of the others.

"Usagi-chan, you're bleeding! We have to get this cleaned!" Ami settled for using the water in the ice pack and took hold of her hand, dabbing the cut with the bandages she had brought.

"I'm fine, Ami-chan," Usagi insisted when the woman tried to apply the bandage. "Sorry, I really have to go now." She pulled her hand away and was starting toward the door when Hotaru suddenly sat up and caught hold of her. Wincing at the touch, Usagi looked back silently and stared at the warmth that started at their hands. They remained like this for a while until Hotaru finally let go and leaned back down against the bed, turning her head away from her. Usagi didn't bother to question and proceeded to take her leave after a bid goodbye.

She stumbled out into the hall, noting dimly that it was nearly empty. Red eyes cast themselves to the sky but her confusion prevented her from determining the time. How long had he been waiting? Was he even still? The Princess fell against the wall with a hand at her temples, her mind frantic with thoughts of her tardiness. This was taking it too far: she was taking his kindness for granted, his feelings for granted. She bombarded herself mentally with insults of the lowest kind; she was a horrible person. Usagi started to run, forgetting all about the incident with Hotaru in the heat of the moment. Her dress flapped behind her and her heels clacked loudly against the tiled floor until the change in material forced them to merely click.

She had steered herself into a beautifully decorated hallway, designated as an area to meet with certain guests. Although the servants dubbed these guests unimportant due to their general lack of political concerns, the pathway was considered one of the best place in which to be. The walls had been crafted from a special type of ice found only in the distant lands of Pluto and Martian hands had glossed it enough so that it shone like glass. A bright rainbow spread across the area as the sun gleamed in the sky, giving proof of the ice's property to separate the spectrum. It provided an amazing dream-like experience and fed the Princess' fantasy of an utopia at the centre of which would stand a grand crystal structure. A marvelous palace, and a beautiful prince would stand always by her side.

A prince...! Usagi crashed through the rainbow, her whole being focused on one room and one room only. She could see his distorted shadow through the wall, standing, and concluded that he must have sensed her presence. He always knew when she was coming and when she asked why a few years ago, he claimed that it was because their hearts were so closely in tune. It was true, she thought as her pace slowed, he must have heard her heart cry out for him. If she closed her eyes and focused, would she be able to do the same? The Princess did not have the patience to test it out. The door swung open and there he was, his white outfit shimmering as he bent his body in greeting. His similarly white hair sat elegantly atop his head and his blue eyes peered out gently at her. He whispered to her in welcome, as if he hadn't been waiting hours for her arrival, and she couldn't help throwing herself into his chest.

A chuckle escaped him as he returned her embrace. "I've missed you too, Maiden. It has been far too long since our last meeting."

Small Lady tightened her hold, burying herself in his scent. "I'm sorry, Helios. I'm so sorry."


Note: I started writing this way back in the summer of 2005, right after I finished watching the third season of Sailormoon. I abandoned the fourth and fifth seasons, not wanting my work to be tainted by the stuff from there, so these characters are mainly based off of manga. My curiosity was the inspiration for this fic. In the series, they talk about how Usagi (our beloved blonde one, that is) brings Neo Tokyo into being and becomes its sovereign and everything. It was probably just my interpretation of it, but I was left wondering how a democracy like Japan would give way to that kind of system once more. Well, those were my thoughts, but what actually spilled from my pen was completely different. ::laughs::

The first draft of this chapter was written while I was taking Grade 10 Civics so I got to use fancy words politic words and everything. Unfortunately, it also dragged a lot. I wanted to have this done before I graduated, but that plan went down the drain. Instead, I aimed for "before leaving high school" and scrapped three years worth of work with that in mind, rewriting everything. I'm actually quite ahead—currently working on the fourth chapter—but since my average is one chapter every 1-2 months, I'll match it with a monthly release. There's a possibility I'll shorten the wait if enough people show interest, but I am aiming for a constant pace here. I mean, it's kinda unfair to have daily releases for the first couple of chapters, then a gigantic four-month period of nothingness. ...Not that I've actually done that before... ::coughs::

Had trouble coming up with a title, though I believe what I have now is most appropriate. Ad Ultimum means "to the end, the last." This will probably be my last major project before post-secondary, and hopefully I'll finish it. ::laughs:: There is, of course, its meaning in the story, but that's okay. It's something of a challenge to write, seeing as how character development isn't exactly my forte, but I'll do my best. For sure.

Written: July 16 2008 - July 29 2008