A/N: No author's note this time P Lets skip that and on with the story!!!
Chapter 17: A Flower in a Sunny Day
Three days and twelve hours before the wedding.
"You want me to do what?" The blue haired and blue eyed young woman asked as she took her glasses off her face and turned to her golden friend. She was busy in her own world reading a book called, "The Secrets of the Lunar Sphere" when her Venutian friend came to her room and asked for her help after hearing the whole story.
"Please, Amy-chan. We need your help! No, two great lovers need your help." Minako pleaded, giving Amy her pleading puppy dog look.
"It's just that, if I do this without any permission from the high counsel or the participants involved my scroll of practices will surely be terminated without a thought and there's nothing I can do." Amy said and then sighed when Minako's puppy look deepens. Minako's eyes were so large and blue with tears forming, her pouted lips quivers as if she was about to wail like a child, and her cheeks puffed out like a balloon. It was really cute and funny in Amy's point of view. Amy sighed in defeat.
"But if it's for our friend and our future Queen I might as well start my duty to her."
"Thank you, Amy-chan!" Minako squealed in delight and hugged Amy.
"So what do we have to do?" Minako asked.
"We need all the help we can get." Amy said.
"Don't worry, those are already arranged. They will meet us today at the forests."
"Very well."
"We have to leave now." Kunzite said as he checked the time in his pocket watch.
"Are you sure this Amy girl can help us?" Jadeite asked as he stood up from his seat and started to put on his jacket.
"She said that this girl is very smart and the problem solver of the group. So I think she can help us in some way." Kunzite replied.
"Better to have something than nothing." Zoicite murmured to himself.
"Did you say something, Zoi?" Nephrite asked when he heard something from his friend.
"Nothing. Just thinking about this whole ordeal." Zoicite sighed and took his jacket that was hanging behind his chair.
"I think it's better if we go ea-" Kunzite was interrupted by a knock on the door. A guard came in and said,
"General Kunzite, sir. Commander Fluorite wishes to speak to you. He said it's very important."
"Very well. Tell him I'll be out in a minute." The guard saluted and left. Kunzite turned to his friends.
"I'll be back, and then we'll go." With that, he left.
"Tell me Mina, who's this Kunzite?" Amy asked as she motioned the stable boy to depart.
"He is the First General of the Earth Prince." Minako answered while choosing a mare for the ride.
"And?" Amy asked again when she saw Minako blushed as the said name of the general.
"And he's my lover." The golden haired young woman stammered almost a whisper. Amy sighed while she patted the brown mare's nose and picked up the saddle on the nearby table.
"What's wrong?" Minako asked as she also picked the saddle and reins.
"It must be good to fall in love." Amy slung the saddle on the mare's back and started tying the belts securely.
"Yes, it is a feeling most pleasant." Minako smiled as the thought of her handsome silver lover came to mind. "Haven't you fallen in love before?"
Amy chuckled and said, "No, the only love that came close to me is my books. I dreamt of being in love with someone, but the problem is that someone is nowhere to be found. I'm starting to believe that true love can only be found on fiction books."
Minako stopped her work in securing the reins and saddle belts on her white mare and looked at her blue friend. "Don't say that, Amy-chan. I'm sure that someone was looking for you right now and maybe the least you expects it he may pop out like a mushroom before you."
"Mushroom?" Amy laughed. "That's a good example, Mina-chan."
"Hey, a girl got to improvised, ya know."
"I know."
"Hey, you know what? I think-"
"Oh no, I don't like that look and tone of yours, Mina-chan. No, thank you."
"Aww, Mi-chan, you haven't even heard what I wanted to say." Minako groaned and pouted.
"I have known you from the beginning and I'm aware when you're in a matchmaking mode."
"Don't you want to hear what I was about to tell you?"
"No."
"But... but it includes A GUY. A big hunky guy, Amy-chan!"
"I think I'll stick with my books. That way, I know they're loyal and simply... simple and not complicated."
"Well what do you call that mambo jumbo she kept studying, not complicated?" Minako mumbled to herself.
"You said something?"
"Oh nothing. I thought you wanted to fall in love?"
"I do, but I wanted it to be special and not some kind of a fling. I'm not good at being hurt."
"We all are."
"See, I'm right. So get that cupid brain of yours from your scheming little tricks. Besides, I don't think I'm over with the last matchmaking of yours."
"I apologize already. I didn't know that the guy had a habit of letting out gas. He seems to be so... so neat the first time I talked to him." Amy rolled her blue eyes, then took the reins and led the mare outside the stable.
"Are they mad?" Kunzite asked. He could not believe it; well actually he did, because it was not very surprising for the people not to act like this.
"I'm afraid not. It's true, General. The people plan to rebel against the royal family once Lady Beryl sat on the throne." Commander Fluorite confirmed as he watched different emotions played in the General's dark silver eyes.
"We cannot avoid this, but at least we can prevent this from happening. I shall speak to them once I got the chance. However, I can't deny that I agree with them." The Commander nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for informing me, Commander."
"It's my job, sir."
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes, I'm afraid this is a lot worse."
"Don't hesitate to tell me, Commander. What is it?"
"Have you thought about the situation?" Minako asked as they rode in a slow pace. They left the palace a few minutes ago and now they are riding along the river back towards the forests.
"Yes, I have my ideas, though it'll be very difficult for us to do it." Amy replied as she stirred her mare to the right and up on the small hill.
"What is the name of the woman who planned this sinister plot?" Amy asked.
"Beryl." Minako hissed. "She is always mean to Sere ever since they were children. She always teases and laughs at Sere's unattractiveness."
"She didn't know that it's part of Selene?" Amy turned her head to her friend.
"What do you mean?"
"You mean you also don't know?" Amy's eyes widened in surprise.
"What is there to know?"
"I can't believe this. You of all people should know all about it." Amy shook her head.
"Cut the mumble jumble and get straight to the point, Amy-chan."
"Still an impatient little girl eh Mina-chan?" Amy sighed and turned her attention back to the road.
"We all know that the Goddess Selene was the most beautiful goddess and woman in the entire solar system, right?"
"Yes." Minako nodded.
"But people doesn't know that every descendent of Selene or the Goddess herself was born without beauty and grace."
"All people do, Mi-chan." Amy shook her blue head.
"No, some people were truly blessed, but the race of Selene was not. Its part of their cycle to womanhood. It was written that the goddess wanted her descendents to know how it feels to be unwanted by attentions. She didn't want her kind to be so arrogantly proud of their beauty."
"Are you saying that even Queen Serenity was very unattractive before?"
Amy nodded.
"That's impossible! The Queen is so beautiful."
"Ask her when we get back and you'll see that what I am saying is true. According to the history, every descendents of Selene was born fat or chubby, poor eyesight, and other unattractive traits, but when the girl reaches her teen years those bad characteristics began to diminish one by one. By the time the girl reaches the age of one and twenty, she becomes an exact copy of the Goddess's beauty. It was also been said that once in a millennium, a true beauty is born like the goddess herself came back to life."
"Wow." Minako breathe out. She was truly surprised and amazed. She thought that Serenity's chubbiness and ungraceful manner was normal and was caused by lonely childhood. She didn't expect that it was in her blood. As the descendents of the Goddess Aphrodite, herself and her mother and her mother's mother and the rest of the ancestral women in her lineage were born with beauty and grace of the Goddess of Love. She was eternally grateful and truly blessed.
'This is something worth learning about.' Minako thought as they entered the forest and disappear within the green blankets of leaves.
"That is serious, but I am grateful to you, you don't know how much it means to us." Kunzite said as he shook the hand of the Commander.
"There's no need for thanking me, General. It is my job as a man and a soldier. Honor made me realize that I am no man without it." The Commander said with a smile.
"Besides, I can't let the most prize possession a man could have been taken away from him." He added sheepishly.
"True." Kunzite laughed.
"I must go now. I left my duty long enough. I won't keep you from your time, General."
"Very well." The Commander salutes in respect and then left the room. Kunzite couldn't stop himself from grinning ear to ear and the thought of his Princess of Love made him giddier with happiness.
"Let's go." He said as soon as the door opens where the other generals reside.
"Where are they?" Minako said impatiently as her tiny foot tapped the battered grass. Amy was sitting on a flat rock just under a tree and watched her friend paced.
"Be patient, Mina-chan. They'll be here."
"Ugh! I'm sure that witch did something to make them go late!" Minako threw her hands up in frustration and paced with anew vigor.
"If I get my hands on that witch and that dark silver eyed man I'll I'll..."
"You'll what?" Came a deep voice and a several chuckles from the bushes. Minako's eyes lit beautifully and ran over to the owner of the voice.
"You're late." She said in a muffled voice. Her arms wrap around the General's waist and her face was buried in his chest.
"About a minute." He chuckled as he strokes the golden strands lovingly.
"It's still counts." She replied and then looked up to him. Both lovers smiled at each other and were about to kiss when several coughing, whistling and laughing brought them back to reality. They pulled apart within arm's length and both blushed in embarrassment.
"Man, we came here to solve a problem and not for a lover's reunion." Jadeite said.
"I never knew you had it in you, Kunzite." Nephrite teased and Kunzite feigns a cough to hide his embarrassment.
"And who might you be, my lady." Zoicite said when he noticed the blue haired, blue eyed young woman under the tree. Amy was blushing by Minako's open affection towards her lover and was grateful when someone took her attention away from the lovers. She looked up to see a man with long brown hair and eyes gazing at her. She blushed once again and was about to reply when Minako spoke.
"Hey guys, I would like you to meet my friend, Princess Mizuno Amecia of the planet Mercury."
"'The Mizuno Amecia?'" Zoicite asked in surprise and Amy nodded. Zoicite's surprised face broke into a warm smile.
"It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Princess. I am Zoicite" Zoicite took Amy's hand and kissed it softly.
"My lord." Amy blushed.
"Hey, how do you know her, Zoi?" Jadeite asked.
"The Princess was famous for her remarkable intelligence and the discovery of viudas, a particle in space we thought did not exist. She's also the only woman who surpassed the head master of the Comet healers life Academy in the final test." He answered Jadeite, but his gaze was not leaving the blue eyed young woman in front of him.
"Wow, Amy-chan. I know you're smart, but I didn't know that you're THAT smart! I'm so proud of you!" Minako said hugging her friend.
"Arigato." She murmured as she hugged her friend back.
"Sorry, to break this thing you all been talking about, but should we get back to the real business at hand?" Nephrite said.
"He's right." Kunzite said and turned to Amy. "Princess, Mina- Princess Minako told us that you can help us."
"I have my ideas." Amy said.
"What could that possibly be, Princess?" Nephrite asked as he walked closer to the group.
"Well, I can't tell you exactly what it is for it's a very complicated process, but I need all of you to do something for me."
"If we can do it, we will." Zoicite said and the rest nodded in agreement.
"However I need all of your trust first for I can't work with people who never have faith in me." Amy confesses, meeting the gaze of each earth generals.
"We trust you, Princess." Kunzite answered for all of them.
"Yeah, it's not like you did something bad." Jadeite said.
"I have nothing against you, Princess, even if I only met you here." Nephrite said, shrugging.
"An innocent lovely young woman who cared for other people cannot be evil." Zoicite said sincerely.
"Arigato minna-chan." Amy bowed. "Then let's do this. Bring me to earth, I need some sample from the mother and the child she's caring."
"How will you do that?" Minako asked.
"That's why I need this gentlemen's help for I can't make the task possible. The Lady Beryl has her own room, am I right?" Amy asked.
"Yes, she demanded to be moved in a much larger and grand room in the palace." Kunzite answered. Amy nodded in understanding.
"Since the people involved in this matter will surely disagree with my idea, here's my plan. Someone will slip a potion on the lady's drink, which will make her sleep. Two of you gentlemen will be guarding the door outside the room, one will get the things I needed and the other will help me in getting the samples."
"Slipping the potion is no problem, but the rest will be difficult for the palace is heavily guarded. However, I think we can do it. Zoicite will help you in getting the samples since he is most skilled in that matters, Jadeite and I will be guarding the door, and Nephrite will see to your needs." Kunzite said. The other men nodded their heads in agreement. They knew that it'd be dangerous, but they will do anything if the future of the Earth and the people was at stake.
"When can we go?" Amy asked.
"Tomorrow, for the wedding is in three days after today." Zoicite informed.
"Very well, let's meet here tomorrow."
---------------------------------
Two days and ten hours before the wedding.
"I have the potion, is everyone ready?" Amy asked and the men nodded. She was wearing an earth maid's robe for disguise. "Let's go."
Amy and Zoicite went inside Beryl's room when Kunzite opens it. Nephrite had given her the things she needed before they teleported on Earth. She gave Jadeite the potion and let him pour it discretely on the Lady's tea. After a minute had passed Beryl was asleep like a baby.
"Well, let's get to work shall we? Zoicite, please turn the lady on her back on the bed." Amy asked when they saw Beryl sleeping on her side on the couch.
"Yes, Princess." Zoicite carried the sleeping Beryl to the bed and laid her down. Amy put her hand on Zoicite's arm.
"Princess?" Zoicite asked as he tried not to blush from her touch.
'God, but she's so cute like an angel. Her touch is so soft.' He thought.
"Zoicite, please call me Amy, like my friends does." Amy said.
"As you wish. Amy." He smiled, and then a thought came to mind. He absent-mindedly put his on hers. Amy blushed when she realized that she still had her hand on his arm and his on hers. She quickly pulled her hand away, as if she was burned and murmured an apology for her abrupt reaction. She clears her throat and tried to regain her composure.
"Let's begin."
"Is there a problem?" Zoicite asked when he saw her bit her lip.
"Umm... May I ask you to turn your back for awhile?"
"What fo-? Oh, Okay." Zoicite reddens a little. He finally understood what she meant and that was, she was planning on undressing the woman. Amy turned her attention back on the woman on the bed and began undressing her. As soon as she got Beryl undressed, she closed her eyes and chanted. Zoicite was patiently waiting for her, but when a blue light came from behind he quickly turned to look back and saw Amy in the middle of her transformation. He knows that he shouldn't watch. It was shameful, but he can't make himself move. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. His, yes his beautiful blue haired angel was enchanting.
Amy felt someone was watching her; she turned her back and gasped a little when she saw Zoicite gazing at her with soft brown eyes. She turned away abruptly to hide her hot face. She was embarrassed for she surely knows that he saw her transformed. Naked. She giggled silently when she heard him cursed, "Oh shit" and a "Sorry" was followed. Amy shook her head to clear her mind and as soon as she put her visor on, she was no longer Amy, but Sailor Mercury. The guardian of ice and knowledge.
One hour passed...
"What's taking them so long?" Jadeite asked in frustration as he turned his head from side to side, looking out for someone.
"They'll be done soon." Kunzite said in a calm voice.
"Yeah, you said that like half an hour ago."
"Be patient and be quiet." Jadeite mumbled something under his breath and was about to say it out loud when the door to the room opens.
"I got it." Amy said with a sweating Zoicite behind.
"What happened to you?" Kunzite asked.
"Umm... nothing." Zoicite walked passed them and on to the window for some air.
"Physical examination." Amy mouthed and Jadeite laughed out loud. Zoicite didn't bother to ask what was so funny, because he already knew that he was the topic of their conversation.
"When do we get the result?" Zoicite asked, trying to change the subject and wanted to know about the test.
"Naturally, the result will be out in three days time."
"Three days? But the wedding is two days from today." Nephrite said, coming out from nowhere.
"Is there anything we can do to speed up the process?" Zoicite asked.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this." Amy sighed in relief when she sat on the nearby chair. "The result will be out two days from today. I know that it's the day of the wedding, but I'll make sure that I have the result before the exact time of the ceremony."
Wedding Day.
Minako ran anxiously to Amy's room. The waiting was killing her; she wanted to know the result. Now. But when she went to Amy's room this morning, she found her friend crouched down and her face on her books and visor screen. Amy told her that she wasn't done yet and it would take a few more hours before she was finish, so she left. Minako was nervous. They only have two more hours before the ceremony begins. Now it was one hour passed noon. Minako didn't bother to knock and went directly inside her friend's room. She saw Amy standing before the table, the chair was now lying on the marbled floor, and her back was to her.
"Amy-chan?" Minako called, her heart was pounding so hard. She could clearly hear the pounding in her ears and felt deafening. Amy turned with a tired face to her.
"We are going to a wedding."
A/N: People! This is the SECOND to the last chapter of this story, so tune in on the last chapter to see if our favorite couple will end up together or be doomed in life without true love. Aww, such drama! I'm looking forward to your comments!