The Language of Fire - The mysterious Priestess Princess
"Ama-nee-san! I don't want too...can't we wait for Mei-kun?"
Princess Amaterasu ignored her sisters protests as she undid the messy bun in Usa's hair. Soft waves of blue and sliver curled their way down the back of the polished marble chair. They glowed and swayed in an unseen wind.
Sliver.
Maybe it was her intial attraction to gold that made her have such a distaste for the colour, or maybe it was the fact that there was no other way of putting it. Sliver was dull.
It was what emerald was to green only to grey. Sliver was a glossier colour of grey and in a universe full of magnificent colours grey was the most boring of them all. Grey defined boredom. It was between black and white. It was just a tone...it was false. Not a real colour.
The Sun Princess reached out a hand to the shiny golden hairbrush on the highly polished blue dress table. Slowly she began to brush her sisters hair gently and subconsciously twisting it into styles like she'd watched her carer Mei-kun do a thousand times, however the hair simply wouldn't stay still and instead it would immediantly spring out of the styles.
Anyway...it's not really sliver...
Amaterasu frowned. No...her sister's hair wasn't sliver. It annoyed her how people passed of certain colours as sliver. Take a bracelet for example...it looked white. It seemed white yet people said it was made of sliver? No...her twins hair wasn't sliver...it was white. Sliver was what old peoples hair went like...not an eight year old childs. Her sisters hair was the color of pears glistening in a pale blue light...her sister's hair was soft. It was moonlight...
"Ama-chan! That hurt!" Whined Usa indigently as her icy blue eyes scowled at her sister from her reflection in the mirror.
"Well you shouldn't have moved then!" Said Amaterasu in a stern tone she'd heard Mei use on the maid before growling in frustration as the pearly locks of hair once again unwound themselves. Amaterasu felt anger bubble up within...she hated failing...she hated it when she couldn't do what other people could.
If Mei-kun can do it so can I!
Amaterasu set her jaw into a determined line of defiance and her eyes sparked at her sisters hair. Logically surely a Princess could at least do somebodys hair as well as a nanny? Yes...that was logical...she was a Princess...that meant that she had to do her best...she couldn't be weak and give up!(Then again the Logic tutor had been quite vague on his teachings. Amaterasu had obviously not taken into the years of experience that Mei must have posessed)
Finally after a further ten minutes Amaterasu stood back to admire her handiwork. Her twins hair had been parted into pigtails...only they seemd to sprout from a type of bun. Amaterasu hadn't really a clue why she'd added in the two buns...it just sort of happened.
Then she watched as her handiwork loosened itself and fell out of place.
Amaterasu stood there and clenched her fists. Her teeth were digging down on each other and in the mirror her face had turned a blotchy red colour as the rage boiled to the surface. She'd spent fifteen minutes on that style! And it was ruined!
A mighty dragon of rage threatened to unleash itself. Amaterasu closed her eyes feeling the dragons hot flames curl at her insides making her blood go beyond boiling temperature. She wanted to slam the brush into the mirror! She wanted the mirror to errupt into flames!
Usa gazen at her twin. Doubt lingered in her eyes as she waited for the explosion like a tree waiting for lightening.
"We're going to be late..." Murmured Usagi tentaively.
Amaterasu growled. Normally it would bother her...being late was unacceptable, especially on such an occasion...but that hair...had...irked...her! And now that she was late she was more frustrated at herself.
"Amaterasu...Usagi-chan...you are late," Said a voice echoing throughout the room. It's light tone soothed the Sun Princesses anger like water putting out a fire. The air in the room became lighter and in entered a tall woman with glowing skin and tresses of pearly hair that glowed to an extent that it made the marble walls look bare and grey.
Amaterasu swallowed the angry lump threatening to rise in her throat. Perspiration dripped on her forhead as she mastered her emotions of fury and turned to greet her mother.
"I am sorry Mother-sama," Bowed Amaterasu in respect. At her lessons she'd learnt that it was important to extend politeness to everyone. A princess was expected to be polite and to have control of her emotions all the time.
I am such a fool...how I can expect to be A Princess if I cannot even gain control of my own anger?!
"She was trying to do my hair," explained Usa holding up a ornate blue clasp as proof.
Queen Selenity smiled gently and held out a glowing hand to recieve the clasp. Usa sat down obidiently and the Moon Queen's hands went for the brush and she began to skim through the blue locks gently and smoothly. Amaterasu watched in fascination as the untamable locks bounced to the Queens whim. They obeyed her hands.
"What sort of style were you hoping for Amaterasu-chan?" Asked the Queen softly beckoning Amaterasu forward.
"It sort of had two buns in it," Said Usagi helpfully.
The brush skimmed through the hair.
"Like this?" Said the Queen stepping back. Amaterasu gasped.
The hair was exactly like she'd styled it. Two small buns framed by long sleek pigtails...
It looks sort of like...like...odango's?
"Hai.." Murmured Amaterasu as a feeling of shame welled up inside her. She couldn't even complete that simple task...
"Is something wrong?" Asked Usagi in a hushed whisper.
"I'm fine!" Snapped Amaterasu.
"Amaterasu, do not snap at your sister like that. Tell me are you frustrated because you could not do her hair properly?" Asked the Queen in a firm voice.
"Hai"...mumbled the Princess.
A gentle hand brushed her shoulder in a reassuring motion. The Queen smiled gently and Amaterasu felt a brush ripple through her own bright golden curls.
"You cannot expect to do everything right first time. You must work at it first..." Said Selenity wisely.
A few moments later Amaterasu sat with an identical style to her sisters. Her vibrant flaming hair had willingly curled itself into a mimic of her twins and strands framed her face. Her blue eyes glittered and shone as she stared in awe.
"There we go...you look beautiful," Said Selenity.
"Thank you...mother," Whispered Amaterasu as a warmth ignited itself in her heart at the simple gesture.
Usagi hopped eagerly.
Of course it wasn't the first time she'd travelled to other Moons. Indeed contact between each Planet and Moon were frequent. She'd met all of her seven other cousins through the years but somehow they still felt like strangers...and her memories of them were like mist neither here nor there.
She glanced up at her older twin and felt a small pang of envy.
It was everything about Amaterasu that dictated that she was a real Princess.
The way her twin always walked gracefully with her head held high and her sunny locks flowing out behind her. The way she always spoke in a commanding tone and the way she always seemed so sure of herself. She was what Usagi craved to be like...and yet...the small younger Princess could not help but feel like she would be doomed to walk in her twins shadow.
I should not think like this...
She looked again at her twin.
It was hard to tell the difference. Their facial features, height and weight were the exact same. If it wasn't for the hair...they would be identical...
Usagi glared at her own sliver curls and couldn't help but compare them to her sisters radiant golden ones. No...Amaterasu's hair wasn't gold...it was full of shades of colours echoing from light yellow to deep amber. It looked like someone had taken the sun and wound it into hair...and then there was Usagi's pale blue locks.
Yet for all her envy Usagi admired her twin.
Ametarsu was strong. Proud, intelligent and strong.
Still, your a Princess. Your not useless...and your much better at drawing and reading...
Usagi smiled...this was true.
Still even if she did envy her sister...they were still twins. Two halves of the same whole and Usagi loved Amaterasu...and she knew the feeling was mutual.
"I can't wait to see Demios!" Piped Usagi straightening out her pale blue dress as they walked down the circualr stairway of the palace.
A faint smile etched itself onto Amaterasu's face. Usagi felt comforted...clearly her twin felt the exact same way. It was the little details that you could read when you were twins.
Amaterasu reached out and held onto Usagi's hand. Her blue eyes flickered and she spoke gently to the younger Princess.
"We've been before...last year...remember? It was sort of...desert-y?"
Usagi strained her mind...she could faintly remember a red desert...and a fountain...
"Sort of...do you think Father-sama will be there?"
The Sun Princesses eyes darkend. A scowl clouded her face and Usagi could feel the waves of agitation vent off her like heat from a fire. The Moon Princess shivered at the empathy she could feel.
"No...probaby not! It's not fair! They told us he would be back a month ago!" Snapped Amaterasu impaitently as the hem of her golden dress swayed indigently. Usagi squeased her sisters hand and Amaterasu sighed.
"It's...not...fair," She said stressing her point firmly as Usagi nodded in agreement.
"Anyway...do you think Mars-itoko will be happy to see?" Asked Usagi refering to their cousin. From what she could remember of the Martian Princess, she had felt quite small in her presence...it was almost as nerve racking as meeting Pluto-sama.
"I expect she'll have no choice," Shrugged Amaterasu as they entered a long corridor full of guards. The corridor lead off into many directions but Usagi knew they were aiming for the throne room and then to the space-craft. For some reason they insisted on a long boring ceremony whenever their Mother left the Moon...
"I don't know...Princess Mars makes me nervous," Said Usagi in a quiet voice.
"Yes well if she threatens you regardless of being a cousin or any stupid laws I shall lock her up in prison!" Smirked Amaterasu in triumph while Usagi giggled.
"You can't do that...not while we're on her Moon. We haven't got the authority," Said Usagi while Amaterasu looked crestfallen.
"Still...while were here..." Said Usagi raising an eyebrow mischeviously. She watched as Amaterasu did the same.
"You wouldn't be thinking what I am thinking?" Suggested the Sun Princess in an innocent tone.
"Race you!" Yelled Usagi speeding off into a full pelt run as her pigtails flew out behind her.
Aura.
It was strange how people could live in world surrounded by such amazing colours and yet fail to notice them. Could they not notice the spirals of blazing aura's that surrounded them? How could they fail to see the depths of their own souls? How could they not gaze upon their inner lights?
Or was it just her?
A warm breeze penetrated the solitary temple. The walls were a faded red colour but they were illuminated with carvings and runes of ancient symbols and languages. Gems were etched among the illustrations and tapestries hung aloft depicturing the scenes of history. Incenses of Sakura and Lavendar cleansed each room and torch brackets lit up the darkness fighting the shadows.
Yet she cared not for the grandeur of the gems nor the richness of the gold. To her they were hollow, like a mist hiding the temples true beauty. It's anicent carvings that told wonderful stories of Gods and Wars yet people ignored the ancient splendour to gaze at the hollow graven gems.
At least this room remains unspoiled...
The private temple room remained untouched. It's walls burned with vivid scarlett and above the archway their were many ancient symbols and carvings in a forgotten language. On the walls in faded paint there were images that pictured many detites of the Solar System. A large fountain tinkled mixing with the sounds of the windchimes to create natures orchestra. Perhaps the most magnifecent thing in the room was it's ceiling...or lack of ceiling.
Where a ceiling should have been there was acres of inky sky twinkling with the lights of millions of Stars. In the distance a large dusty red planet hid Demioses twin Phobos. The sky stretched on endlessly and the three brightest stars twinkled with their own lights.
The starry ceiling never allowed any force of weather to penetrate the room. Only the senior Priests and Priestesses were allowed to prey and meditate here. Perhaps this was a symbol of her status, although she privately felt that if you could appriciate the ancient beauty of the inner sanctuary then you deserved to be allowed to meditate here.
Slowly she inhaled the spicy smells of Jasmine and Sakura that mingled with the ancient musky smell the Sanctuary had aquired over the centuries. As she inhaled the flames in the large, yet simple fireplace in front of her began to rise licking at the air for more oxygen.
As she exhaled gently the flames fell gently until they wound themselves through the air like fiery ribbons dancing towards the child embracing her with their warmth and heat. The curled at her wrists and up her arms carassing her face in motions that would have severly burnt any other person but all the girl did was smile.
"You have returned again Mars-chan, should not thee be awaiting the arrival of thou's cousins?"
If fire had any sort of voice it would crackle like flames licking at a log yet be softer than the final hiss of steam coming from a red hot coal. It would be powerful and deep yet fragile and gentle. Fire was alive...but it never spoke to anyone...not a living soul except the select few which it chose whose numbers dwindled to two. This girl and it's Mistress.
I have returned but only for a short while although truthfully I would rather remain here. Mars spoke silently although the words never left her lips.
"We know, yet soon thee shall return to the land of thou's Father and help set a cycle in history..."
Mars nodded empathically understanding it's meaning.
Soon to mortals meant a few minutes, days or weeks yet to fire soon could be as soon as a century. The spirit of fire was eternal and to it centuries passed like weeks fading into each other. Mars had long ago learnt to shred the illusion that covered her eyes. The illusion that centuries were years and the illusion that she should posess a mind to match her body.
For instance she posessed the body of a child in it's nineth year. Her ebony raven locks fell only to her shoulders. Her face still posessed signs of puppy fat and her nose was still a button shape, however her violet eyes burned with the light of fire and eternity. Her eyes reflected her soul and unlike her other cousins who had a mind to match their bodies except Pluto-sama, she had broken that illusion. For them time flowed in a strange way...their age stretched over time along with their mentality maturity. To them a century was a year...only not. Time passed...they were aware of it but their minds created an illusion so they still posessed their childlike naivety.
But she didn't.
She remembered when the illusion shattered. Back then she looked five and had that mentality so she was very frustrated and bored when she'd been told to sit and breath on her own. She'd frowned at the word meditate for to her it was just a bunch of old people sitting and breathing. Any person could breath...why did she have to take classes in it? She remember sitting there pondering that fact...then fire spoke.
And the Illusion shattered.
Something troubles me, intoned Mars, I need your help. I've been having a dream and I wish to know if it is of the present, past or future?
Open your mind...commanded the fire softly.
Mars obeyed and images painted themselves in her inner mind. The planets danced before her eyes from giant Jupiter to cold Pluto. Their respective moons orbitted them and each one planet possessed a moon that was outlined with a faint pearly light. Mars nodded understanding that this symbolised each of her Aunt and Uncles kingdoms.
Finally the celestrial dance halted and a low wind blew. The lights of each moon flickered out until only the Moon orbitting Earth remained glowing with the lights of the other eight. Then the planets began to glow and rearrange themselves. The light shot backwards from the Earths Moons back to it's original home...then the scene repeated itself but this time their light flooded towards the Sun.
Mars shivered as each light died out. Her heart thumped agaisnt her ribcadge and sweat dripped down her forhead. Fear lurched in her spirit and when she spoke, she spoke outloud in a panicked voice that came out sounding like a frightened childs.
"What does it mean Fire Kami?"
The fire hissed infront of her eyes and embraced her body comforting her fears.
"It's the possible outcome of part of a prophecy made many centuries ago Princess..."
What does it mean though? I don't think I understand...Mars softly thought.
"We cannot tell you the full prophecy but it predicted the rise of a Soverign who would one day save the world from a darkness..."
Mars puzzled this over in her mind trying to work out the problem. She could feel the scenery of stars fading until she could feel a cushion underneath her body and smell the incense. She was back in the Sanctuary but the fire still crawled up her limbs.
"Such prophecies are vague...and easily misinterpretated...do not let it go to heart child..."
Mars nodded empathically but then groaned as the warmth left her body leaving her exposed to the air that felt freezing compared to the fires warmth. She shivered and her eyes flickered open. No longer did flames surround her and the fire in the fireplace had gone out leaving trails of thin smoke.
A faint hot flush filled her body causing goosebumps to prickle on her pale skin but the Princess didn't give any sign or recognition. She was used to the feeling and instead her eyes lingered from the empty fire place to the archway to her right where faint traces of pale blue and lime green intertwined with each other - Aura's.
Someone is coming...an attendant no doubt. Pale blue...and green...always the same...
Mar gracefully got up from her fat red cushion and brushed some ash off her humble garments. It made no difference to the fire if you were a servant or a Princess. They considered such things trivial therefore wearing an expensive dress wouldn't impress them. Instead the Princess was robed in a Priestesses dress that was three sizes to big for her- still she insisted on wearing her crown - she was very proud of her lineage.
Finally an attendant in a bronze robe bowed upon entering the Sancutary.
"Your Highness...Queen Selenity has arrived..."
Mars nodded briefly and paced out of the room by his side. The corridors of the temple held a certain air of forbidding with their blood red carpets and dark mahogany walls lit up by the feeble light of a torch flame.
The people of her Kingdom were raised in accordance to their Moon. That was how she ended up at the Temple in the first place. Her Mother was the Queen of Demios and her Father the King of Phobo's, their marriage caused an allience in the two Moons known as the Martian Alliance. Princess Mars was meant to be a symbol of this alliance thus she honoured both Moons traiditions.
The Moon of Demios was one of the Spiritual Centres of the Solar System holding one of the three Temples of Reverence (the others being on Charon and Titan). The children of Demios regardless of status were sent to the nearest temple to be educated by the Priests and Priestesses. There, they would be taught how to meditate, read, write and do maths. They would be taught how to respect the world surrounding them and everything in it. They would be taught peaceful hand to hand combat for defence. All in all they were raised to have mutual respect for the Universe and everything in it, good common sense and good intelligence.
On the Moon of Phobo's children were sent to large schools were they were taught about politics and commandments of armies. They were taught how to be honourable and how to fight with many weapons and the correct conducts of war. All in all they were raised to be proud dignified warriors. Martian warriors were the fiercest in the Solar System and they all got their due respect. Honour and Dignity were a warriors soul as much as their armour.
The moons were meant to be the complimenting opposites of one another working together in harmony. Princess Mars was born as a symbol of this balance.
So when it came to educating the Princess that was born to unite the two Moons through the planet of Mars, Princess Mars had to endure half of her time on her mothers moon of Demios learning the art of being a Priestess and the other half was spent on her Fathers Moon where she was educated in Politics and trained in Archery. If it happened that she had any spare time during the comings and goings then she would go home to her parents castle of Phobos-Demios (which stood directly over Mars at an equal distance between each Moon), and spend time with her mother learning about how to be a good Queen.
On the outside her life would appear frantic but it was actually relatively calm travelling through a cycle. First Demios, then Phobo's, then home. The cycle seemed endless but she knew from her Mothers stories that when she turned fourteen her education on both Moons would end and then she would have to travel out into the Solar System and learn the ways of a Sailor Senshi.
The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on end and her whole body contracted into shivers as wave after wave of numbingly powerful aura's blinded her senses. Pale blue interlocked with vivid gold and finally burning white. Her stomach began to churn nervously but her head remained high. Since her Mother was in her palace it was Princess Mars's job to greet their guests and make their stay comfortable.
Of course she'd met her Aunt and little cousins many times before...while it be by their cousins reckoning that they hadn't met for a year...Mars secretly felt it was more like five years and her memories of her cousins were faint. Mars wished she had the companionship of fire...
The huge golden doors in front of her opened and she took a deep breath in before walking through them.
The Entrance Hall of the Temple was flanked with many guards. Mars recognised her own who wore tunics of scarlet and blazing golden armour. They carried spears and saluted their Princess as she walked past - on the other hand the detites in blue tunics and sliver armour were completely foreign to her but she guessed that they must be Selenity-sama's. They bowed in respect but looked at her with polite confusion.
Mars focused her eyes on the end of the corridor. The blazing Aura's were burning her more fiercely than fire ever could. They scratched at her soul making her feel something beyond pain. Her teeth gritted and her fists clenched fighting the sensation. She was used to feeling such powerful waves...it happened whenever she met one of her Aunts but it still numbed her.
"Hold your head high Princess...your Mother Demios-sama knows you shall do well"
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a torch bracket flare. She smiled as a warmth filled her insides. Her mother...thats right. Mars set her head high in dignity and her violet eyes crackled with fierce pride. She was the daughter of a Queen! She was the daugther of War...and she was protected by fire.
She subduded the aura's of power with her own fiery red one. The blazing sensation left her body and she reached the end of the red carpet and inclined her head in respect towards her Aunt before she looked up and her eyes lingered at the three figures.
The tallest had pearly pale skin that shone like moonlight. Her hair was soft and snowy and fell down her back towards her ankles. On her brow was a simple sliver circlet set with a diamond and her dress was a plain white garment. Mars bowed at her Aunt in respect before gazing at the two smaller figures who stood with their hands interlocked.
Ah...cousins you have grown...
Both of her little cousins seemed determined to keep their heads held high. One of them had shining pale blue hair. She recognised the younger twin as Serenity-Usagi or plain Bunny. Her light blue eyes gazed swiftly into Mars's violet ones before retreating to the ground as a blush appeared on her cheeks and her pigtails wiggled.
Why has she got odango's on her head?
Mars bit back the urge to laugh at the small odango shaped buns before her eyes skimmed to her other cousin and the elder twin Serenity Amaterasu.
Amaterau stared with a glassy expression in her dark blue orange rimmed eyes. Her golden hair was wound into identical Odango's with her sister and she seemed much more reluctant to lower her eyes.
Sun Princess...
Finally Amaterasu lowered her eyes and fidgeted in almost exasperation. Mars smiled before speaking in a clear tone.
"Aunt Selenity-sama, Welcome to the First Temple of Reverence."
The Queen smiled genly before speaking.
"We are honoured to be here Mars-chan."
Amaterasu gazed out of the window enchanted by what she saw. Her arms were pressed against the glass and her face was so close that her nose nearly touched the screen. Her eyes were wide in amazement and they bore a streak of orange withing them like a glittering flame.
Space.
It warmed her insides to look out the window. It made the hairs on the back of her neck sing and it made her hear compact with pride and adrenaline as she watched the beams of distant twinkling stars set out before her. Each a new world...a new galaxy...a new solar system...A new life!
The the inky darkness that peered all around them was enticing...not solid. Just plain open space. She could see for miles...she could see the faint redness that presented Mars. If she squinted she could even see two small Moons. The sight made her heart expand with a fierce pride. She was akin to this world. She symbolised the life in the Solar System...she and her family were like the stars...each glittering with their own light and life.
One day...you shall be Queen...one day...you shall rule an entire planet and Moon...and even the Sun! The largest empire in existance...
Her heart pounded and excitment bubbled. To be Queen...the greatest honour...
Out of the corner of her eyes she could make out the slivery outline of her twin doing the exact same with a mirrored look on her face.
"One day," Said Amaterasu in a strong proud voice," One day we shall be like a star. You and I shall rule an entire empire! Image it...can't you see it Bunny?" Said Amaterasu in a voice sparking with passion and her eyes dancing with dreams.
"You shall...you'll be Queen Ama-chan...I'll just be a Princess..." Said Bunny in a small voice as her eyes looked away in regret.
Just a Princess? You're my sister...my twin...I'll share it all with you!
"Not really...you're born with the Moon Usa...When I'm Queen I'll make you Queen of the Moon and that little planet Earth..." Explained Amaterasu smiling brightly. Usagi looked at her twin in bewilderment before a small lit up her face.
"Thanks...do you think that the people on Earth will ever become like us?" Asked Usagi in curiosity.
It was a well known fact that Earth was the most undeveloped planet in the Solar System. It's people didn't even know of Space! Or any of the other worlds...according to the Princesses tutor Earth people ran around with spears hunting animals like primitive savages sacrificing their people to strange Gods...it seemed so uncivilised in Amaterasu's mind...it was so...unclean...and stupid.
Her eyes averted back out to the starry sky.
I wonder...were we ever so primitive in our ways? We must have began somewhere...although I suppose we're sort of...well a higher being than them...we must be otherwise we'd be running around hunting animals too...
"Perhaps...one day. When we're Queens we could always visit...you know...sort of sort things out. Leaving them to settle things themselves isn't helping them. Their just making a big mess of things," Said Amaterasu in a voice of distaste.
"It's forbidden...Mother-sama said we had to just watch the planet and make sure no one hurt it," Said Usagi in a wise voice.
"Yeah but when we're Queens we'll be in charge..." Said Amaterasu in a obvious voice.
"Yeah! But what about Aunt Athena...and the rest...they might not like it," Said Usagi in a concerned voice.
"Well it's our planet...and we sort of owe it the poor creatures. I mean their planet doesn't even have a Sailor Senshi! Imagine it!" Said Amaterasu in an amazed voice as her twins eyes widened.
"No Sailor Senshi?" She whispered in an awed voice.
"Nope, Our mother is the sort of senshi for Earth...since our Moon obviously rules it" Said Amaterasu.
"Princess...we'll be landing in Demios soon...you're mother Queen Selenity-sama wishes to see you," Said a woman with short copper hair and bright pink eyes. Her voice was soft but firm and she wore a small blue dress with a moon insigna.
"Hai, Mei-kun," Said Bunny to their caretaker.
Amaterasu finally pressed her face away from the window and cracked an identical grin with her twin and shot her a small look.
We'll talk later...
Usagi hesitated.
The large, highly polished brown marble pillars towered above her head. They seemed to be drawn skyward with a magnectic force making the young Princess feel tiny in their mist. A warm wind made her pigtails dance and the air tasted like it had been baked. Small grains of sand tickled her toes and the night stars smiled down from on high.
It's so scary...sort of a holy-scary...
The large red doors had many symbols and pictures engraved in them. Pictures of strange figures praying...the sun rising...stars glittering and the Nine planets were outlined with scarlett while the Moons glowed white. The Moons appeared to be crafted from something that wasn't quite diamond...or pearl but it was lit up with a fantastic light.
"Why are they glowing?" Asked Amaterasu as her hand went out to touch one of the glittering pearls experimentally before they bounced off an invisible forcefield. Amaterasu glared and re-tried only to find the pearls nigh impossible to touch.
Queen Selenity smiled at her childs curiosity.
"They represent our Moons Ama-chan. And they will never stop glowing so long as our kingdom lasts."
"What are they?" Asked Usagi as her eyes widened reflecting their light...it was almost hypnotic.
"The gems are made from Moon Crystals...or at least they immitate Moon Crystal. The true Moon Crystals are," A small smile lit up on Selenitys face as her eyes went misty,"...are somewhere else," She added mysteriously.
"What about the Sun...the Sun has a special gem doesn't it?" Asked Amaterasu in a small hurt voice. Usagi touched her twins arm gently...she knew that Ama hated being left out of things like this.
"There is a gem for the Sun..but it's rare. Not even your Fathers ever seen it! Maybe...it might be your destiny to find it Ama-chan," Said Selenity wisely as Amaterasu's eyes lit up with wonder.
Usagi turned her head away feeling a little hurt but a senior guard cleared his throat before speaking.
"Excuse me, Queen...but should we not venture inside?" He asked with a tad of impaitence.
"Hai, Tyre-san," Said Selenity as she touched the door. It slowly creeked open and they crystals sparkled brightly. The door swung open slowly...but Usagi gazed in shock...how could it open without anyone pulling it?
"Mother-sama" Whispered Amaterasu in Usagi's ear answering her unasked question. Usagi nodded as she came face to face with a small but neatly ordered group of Demian Guards. Their tall height and severe expressions made Usagi tremble slightly before she raised her had proudly- she was afterall a Princess...surely they wouldn't harm her? Not with Mother and Ama there...
The room beyond had a pale gold floor and dark blood coloured walls lit by flaming torches. Elegant tapistries were littered among portraits and huge doors led off into various rooms. Unarmed soliders in odd monkish garb guarded the perimeter.
The all bowed...it put Usagi in mind of a field of reeds bowing in the breeze. The Captain of the Demion Guard saluted the chief Moon Guard before bowing to Queen Selenity.
"Hail Queen Selenity. Queen of the Moon and Earth and the Soverign of Moonlight. Sister of our beloved Empress and a loyal Friend of our Nation!"
His voice thundered and rumbled like a storm cloud. His voice echoed throughout the corridor before he bowed to the small Princesses. Usagi felt pride well up from within...she felt like the real thing now...
Incline your head back...
Usagi obeyed her conscience and she and Amaterasu inclined their heads at the same time. Usagi smiled and out of the corner of her eyes she caught her twin doing the exact same thing towards her before stiffling a giggle which Usagi shared before reprimming herself.
"Hail Crown Princess Serenity. Future Empress of the Sun and heir of the Moon. Hail Princess Serenity, Princess of the Moon and Sun.
"Thank you," Said Selenity gratefully gliding into the temple placing a comforting hand on each twins shoulder, guiding them in.
Where is Princess Mars...
Usagi's eyes scanned the massive corridor with curiosity. It was bad manners not to greet guests...she'd always been taught that. Plus it was disrespectful...Usagi gulped eyeing her twin. Amaterasu hated forms of bad manners or anything that dictated disrespect towards either herself, Usagi, their Mother or their Father. Right now her eyes were glowering but her voice remained calm and collect as she spoke.
"Where is Princess Mars-itoko?" Asked Amaterasu.
The Demian Guard acknowledged her statement.
"Our Princess is meditating in the inner Sanctuary and shall be here promptly."
Amaterasu nodded with some satisfaction at the answer while Usagi's insides churned. How should she act? Normal? Formal? Should she add Sama onto her name like she did with Pluto? What did she say to this cousin? She knew how to act around all the rest...but it had been a year...or had it?
Usagi puzzled this over...she saw most of her cousins regulary. She'd even spent a month at Magellan a weeks ago. She knew them all...then why was this one such a mystery?
"Ama-chan...are you nervous?" Asked Usagi keeping her voice low so her mother wouldn't hear. The older twin made a movement with her head half-way between a nodd and a shake. Usagi nodded as though in agreement with her twins silent statement. Her twin was probably feeling anxiety...but then again Amaterasu was an expert at hiding it.
And so am I
Just then a strange sensation took over her mind.
She could feel something...something hot near her. Like she was standing right next to a fire. The curious sensation curled up her body engulfing her in it's warmth. Out of her eyes she could see the torch brackets flare and her twin making strained movement with her face as though glaring at invisible enemies.
Out of the din Usagi could make out a small figure walking towards them.
As the figure moved closer Usagi thought it was a priestess...but then again all the priestesses were old. Then a glint of ruby caught her vision and her eyes flickered towards the crown the girl seemed to be wearing and she gasped with recognition.
Mars-itoko!
The girl standing before her had blood red hair that climbed to her shoulders and she was wearing a priestess robe that seemed too big for her and was darkend with black soot. On the girls head was a ringlet of platainum set with a small pearl and a ruby that glinted like a drop of blood. The child seemed only slightly older than Usagi and Amaterasu but she was a little bit taller and she carried the same air of authority and wisedom posessed by her oldest cousin...and her violet eyes were burning...like fire!
Usagi glanced at her twin for confermation but Amaterasu seemed to have entered a silent battle of wills...and Usagi winced knowing the outcome as her twin lowered her eyes.
"Welcome to the First Temple of Reverence Aunt Selenity-sama," Said Princess Mars politely as Queen Selenity smiled and her eye beamed with amusement at her niece.
"We are honoured to be here Mars-chan."
Mars nodded and returned the smile.
"If you wish to rest I can show you to your rooms and have baths ran for you or if you like I could show you around some of the Temple?" Offered the Princess.
A bath...but on the other hand the Temple looks interesting...What does Ama want to do?
"Thank you Mars-chan. I would like to speak to you later...it's been a while but on the other hand I think twin Serenitys may like a bath. Perhaps if we speak at dinner?" Said Queen Selenity.
Mars bowed before smiling.
"Of course Aunt Selenity-Sama, Dinner shall be served in two hours...if you like I could show Serenitys-chan to their room?"
Queen Selenity smiled but there was a hint of mischevious in her blue eyes as she glanced at her daughters. Amaterasu was working hard to keep a neutral face while Usagi was staring with interest and polite confusion.
"I think that would be a wonderful Idea."