Different World of a Different Time

by Dietmoonfairy

In a desperate attempt to save her mother and the planet of her birth, Small Lady Serenity made a hasty journey to the past, in search of the crystal and the guardians who could come to her aid. But somehow, the tiny princess traveled a bit too far...

5. Chapter 5

Different World of a Different Time
by Moonlight Eternal

- -

Chapitre 5

Endymion quickly learned why Helios disliked being bothered after his excursions to different realms. As though he were swimming sluggishly through a thick gel, he felt himself return to a conscious state. The initial return had been quick enough, it was waking up to the regular world that seemed to elude him. He could hear foggy voices around him, which he assumed belonged to the Garren, discussing what he, Malachite, Helios, and Rose had witnessed.

He'd rather not think about that part...

"...looking for something to save her mother? A golden crystal?"

"Well, technically that's a description of Gaia's Crystal, isn't it? I've never heard it referred to as the Golden Crystal however."

"And Zoi would know!"

"Thank you, Jed, I needed that affirmation..."

"Be nice, Zoisite," Nephrite spoke in his mild way.

"I'm not sure that Gaia's crystal, or even this Golden Crystal are what she's searching for..." Helios's voice mused. "The way the Queen said it, Rini's father, the King, controls this Golden Crystal. Whatever crystal the Queen controls is the one that Rini may be looking for. That was the impression I got, but we can't exactly begin to help Rini with just that tidbit of knowledge. She could be searching for any one of the crystals- Jereni's, most likely as she's a Lunar descendant, but who knows? Rini's mother could control Indivar's, Xanthus', even Oran's crystal for all we know! Or she could be from a completely different galaxy..."

"But..." Jadeite's confused murmur filtered. Endymion groggily thought he should probably join this discussion, but sleeping sounded so nice... "But I thought this was the only galaxy with a pillar system...why would another have crystals if that's not their politics." Even attempting to push himself back into sleep, Endymion heard the edge to his Master at Arms' voice. With an internal groan, the prince decided it was his responsibility to make sure that edge didn't escalate to something more threatening to the other garren. And as such, he was required to wake up. Curse responsibilities...

"Jed, if you'll remember, each country here also has a crystal and we certainly don't use the pillar system. I was just pointing out that knowing Rini's mother uses a crystal doesn't narrow down anything of who she is, or which crystal Rini might be looking for. But then, we don't even know that a crystal is what she's looking for. Those sailors there-"

"Sailors as in the legends in skimpy outfits?" Endymion decided that the change in Jadeite's voice still didn't allow him to fall asleep right where he lay, although he seriously wished to do just that.

"YES, Jed," Helios continued. "They didn't seem the type to allow a child not even of court age to venture into unknown and therefore possibly enemy territory by herself, did they?"

"No," Malachite's hesitant reply was enough to sound alarm bells off in Endymion's head and wake him up further. Mal was NEVER hesitant. Quiet, occasionally, silent, when there were others around, sarcastic, more often than not, maliciously happy, all 24 turns of the day and night; NEVER was that man hesitant. But was it an unsure hesitance, or a hesitance to not wake Endymion up? Opening one eye unnoticeably, he peaked out to find Mal less than a foot away. Ah...so he'd just been hesitant to answer so nearby. Well then, he could just-

"Endy, what was your opinion?" It was cruel, really- Endymion had already apologized for that argument earlier. He almost wished Helios had just cursed him rather than deprive him of the mere turn of the hourglass of sleep he might've attained that night before rays of the sun streaked the sky.

"It would seem to me," Endymion began through clenched teeth as he remained in his horizontal position and left his eyes shut- perhaps they'd get the message, "that Rini didn't come with anyone's approval. The legends, which in most probability are more than legends, tell of a Guardian of Time, also a sailor; if she assisted Rini in travelling through time, you'd expect she wouldn't drop her Queen's daughter into the largest lake on Terra. I'm assuming this Guardian of Time serves the Queen just as the other sailors served her, so don't make any comment about my comment being impossible and irrelevant, Zoisite. It makes perfect sense." He knew his friend had closed his mouth with a slightly petulant pout. "Therefore, we can probably rule out that Rini came with the assistance, or at least the aware assistance, of anyone. On another note, do we HAVE to talk about this now instead of oh, a Godly hour tomorrow when the sun isn't JUST beginning to show?"

"With your eyes clamped down so tight, Endymion, I'd have assumed you wouldn't notice," Helios said dryly.

"I did notice you allowed my sister to escape..." Endymion answered back.

"Who could've kept her captive?!" came Jadeite's query, as if the idea were inconceivable.

"Point," Endymion conceded. "But back to sleep...wouldn't the best way to find any of this out be to just ask Rini yourself?" He groaned as he sat up and faced the others, deliberately hunching over and shooting looks at them with what he hoped were bloodshot eyes. Maybe if he made them feel guilty enough…

"She doesn't trust any one of us enough to tell us those close-to-the-heart kind of details..." Nephrite mentioned. "Not even Endymion, I'd gather. And even if she did, I'm pretty sure Enydmion wouldn't be comfortable asking that of Rini. She'll tell us in her own good time."

"The only question is how much time she has..." Zoisite murmured. Malachite pulled Endymion to his feet, and Endymion reluctantly shook his head to wake up with the realization that he'd have to walk all the way back to his room where a couch awaited his arrival.



"Not quite the only question," Helios murmured as he and the others exited his private chamber in the Temple and began, though wearily, their way back to their wing of the castle. Endymion noticed blearily that Jadeite still managed to have a bounce in his step.

"What is it, Jed?" he growled.

"This was the best day off ever!" The others only sighed and continued forward.

- -

Rini was blearily aware that quite early in the morning, someone had stumbled into the chamber she'd been sleeping in. She found herself roused only barely by some rather harsh, though clever, swearing in Old Language, accompanied by the sound of some object of the room falling over with a heartening THUD. Rini suspected to find, come the morning, an overturned end table of sorts.

Besides the small disturbed moment, Rini slept soundly through the night only to wake from a slight rapping at the dark mahogany doors that connected Endymion's bed chamber to a slight corridor. Although Rini couldn't be sure, she suspected that the other five men, or at least four of them as Helios didn't seem to be categorized with Nephrite, Jadeite, Malachite, and Zoisite, were nearby in the same hall, each behind their own door. She wondered briefly who slept behind the sixth door, almost identical to the garren's except for a slightly more...feminine touch. Perhaps Rose? As she stretched in accordance to her usual routine, she heard the rumbling growl from somewhere towards the middle of the room. Her eyes darted around the circular room quickly. The large bed she'd slept in was against a back wall, which had ceiling to floor windows on one side and doors that assumedly led to outside to a balcony on the other. Even with the drapes drawn, sunlight attempted to make its way inside, although somewhat hesitantly. Of course there were the usual things to a room: a wardrobe, a wall of books, a LiKana board on the ground next to an overturned end table, and a large, black couch towards the center of the room. The sound of protest had issued from the couch, or someone on the couch (which made more sense).

"Endymion," Zoisite's voice was muffled by the door. In response, Rini looked towards the couch; Endymion rolled over rebelliously. "You promised to go over these edicts before I sent them to the Council!"

"Did not..." Endymion croaked, pulling a blanket over his head. Rini glanced to one of the bedside tables. The hourglass read almost half past the hour of...Rini guessed the golden seven, formed of pure magic atop the hourglass, was the hour. She was pleasantly surprised that even at such an oddly early hour she felt refreshed. Rini wondered idly whether Endymion's bed had some magic charm for feeling rested like her mother's; Rini was sure that her mama, the Queen, MUST have some sort of special spell on her bed as Serenity never lacked of energy and yet Rini's mother rarely got what Queen Ami (the usual consult doctor and authority on such health issues) stated was the absolute minimum amount of sleep one should receive. But then, the Queen seemed to defy many "absolutes" on a regular basis...



"Don't make me get Malachite or Helios in here to lug your sorry hide out of bed..." Endymion's only reaction to Zoisite's threats was to place a pillow over his head. Rini couldn't help but giggle a little; she'd done the same thing many times to her own royal wake ups. The child took the invitation of extra time to glance around at the unfamiliar things gracing Endymion's room. She could tell, even at dusk and past dark the day before, that he, like her mother and father, in all likelihood owned wondrously curious items. She also hoped to figure out a little more on what time period she'd graced as well as anything about the people who lived in it. The six men she'd met the day before could certainly not be what one would call "normal". In the day she'd spent with these strange yet familiar people, Rini had made up her mind about most of their occupations, and although they might have been normal for these people, she could be sure that normal was not reserved to these people. Zoisite, as made even more obvious by his early morning intrusion on Endymion, was an advisor to some sort of senator or council member. Rini could not be sure how far in the past she'd managed to travel, she hadn't been to specific with the time key, so she also wasn't too familiar with the political structures of the time. However, Zoisite had the air of a high ranking nobleman who at the very least assisted a man of higher standings of whom Zoi was sure to take the place of later in life. Helios was the High Priest, or at least a priest- she'd known this almost from the beginning as the only men allowed to perform exorcisms were monks of the first order (of whom couldn't be found on Earth until long after it was no longer called Terra) or higher priests. And although it didn't sound as if Helios had been SUCCESSFUL in his exorcism, that much didn't really matter. Jadeite was harder to pinpoint-he seemed newer to Rini somehow. He certainly wasn't very magically inclined as he'd set that couch on fire...so he was most likely some sort of officer in the army, or a lower-ranking priest. Nephrite was even harder to figure than Jadeite as he'd not revealed a single one of his traits to her. He carried himself highly, however, and somewhat similarly to Helios. Therefore he was, or at least once had been, some sort of spiritually inclined man.

But Endymion eluded her the most. He was a nobleman, that was for sure, just like the others. His status Rini found herself stumbling over once she attempted puzzling beyond noble. The others seemed to answer to him and yet his duties struck her as minimal. Either he avoided responsibility like a plague or had bizarre amounts of free time. So, Rini hoped to find something of Endymion out from his own room. The night before it had been too dark to tell much of anything, but now that light was leaking through the drawn curtains...

Curiously she ran her eyes over the odd things on his many shelves, listening rather distantly to Zoisite's rising threats. Much like she regularly ignored many of her own tutors and mentors (it all came naturally when one was bothered by so many people on such a regular basis) Endymion was still stubbornly ignoring Zoisite. Perhaps Endymion also found himself badgered endlessly...Rini could only hope there were others who struggled like her. As she glanced over at Endymion though, she could see that he was even more adept at ignoring people than she, and had in fact, fallen straight back to sleep, one arm hanging off the side of the couch, the other holding the pillow to his head. She allowed herself another giggle and turned back to examining the room.

From her spot at the center of the it, Rini could recognize the assortment of books and titles. Rini's mind toggled between being wise in her innocence, and innocent in her wisdom. She was incredibly intelligent according to her parents, yet many of her tutors treated her with no 

such respect. Still, she managed to learn other things besides what the said tutors perscribed to her as 'basic training.' Her mother's court of Queens had always been willing to lend a hand in Rini's education, and had done so on many an occasion. She excelled in the arena of education when she was with those she trusted, and those she felt actually taught something worthwhile.

And the fact that Rini couldn't recognize many of the titles of Endymion's books was not for lack of reading ability. It would require closer inspection, but Rini was sure many of the books were in other strange, ancient languages she'd only heard of in theory. Rini spoke 10 of the 12 languages of her system, as well as 4 of the ancient languages. Whatever those books were titled in, it wasn't something she was familiar with. As she slowly, silently crept closer to the book case and off the bed, in order to take a closer look, her eyes caught a dull shine. Turning towards an obscure corner she stopped short to stare up at a podium taller than her: upon it rested a golden circlet.

'It figures,' her mind murmured as she looked over to the prince still sleeping on the couch. 'I should've realized...Endymion isn't exactly a common name, even in Old Language. It must be something like the Lunarian tradition of Serenity...although I've never heard of something like that...I should ask someone back home...when everything's all sorted,' she added the second bit hastily. She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. The way she was going, she'd never see her papa again to ask him.

"ENDYMION!" Rini jumped at Zoisite's last attempt to wake the prince up, her reverie broken and her emotions once again descending to a rest inside her. Even Endymion couldn't have ignored that.

Endymion sat up. "WHAT?!" he yelled at the door impatiently. Rini sensed his sleep had either been extremely poor or severely lacking. He didn't even seem to acknowledge Rini's presence; in fact, Rini was sure he'd forgotten it completely.

"YOU PROMISED!" Rini almost wished she could see the version of Zoisite which wasn't composed; it surely would've been either imposing or hilarious.

"WHEN?!" Endymion's voice rose in volume, if at all possible. Rini covered her ears against the roar.

"SHALL I GIVE YOU THE SPECIFIC TIME, PLACE, AND DATE OR WILL JUST YESTERDAY MORNING SUFFICE?!" the advisor matched his prince's volume extremely well. It clicked now why all the others seemed to serve Endymion...they were part of his Royal Guard, the Garren.

"What's all the racket about?" came a weary question. Rini whirled around to find Jadeite standing off to the far left of Endymion's room in what she highly suspected was solely a dark red robe. The door off behind him answered her unspoken query. She could make out, barely, another large bed chamber. Jadeite's was connected to Endymion's...

Rini quickly glanced around. There were five other single doors and two sets of double 

doors, one which she assumed led to the balcony, and other which Zoisite seemed to find useful for taking his frustration out on. The single doors, Rini guessed, all led to the other garren's rooms, as well as Helios's. And then there was that one which held an illustrious mystery...As Rini scrutinized the doors, one opened and Helios stumbled in. Thankfully, he seemed to be dressed, though from the look of all the creases in the material, he was only dressed because he'd slept in his clothes. There were dark circles under his eyes that showed up spectacularly on his pale skin and he was having trouble stifling a yawn.

"Endy...Zoi...isn't it a little early for an argument?" he asked, looking from Endymion to the door and back. Endymion had long since stood up and approached the door fiercely, stomping each step.

"I JUST WANT SOME SLEEP! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?"

"I JUST WANT YOUR QUICK APPROVAL! IF YOU'D HELPED ME YESTERDAY LIKE I ORIGINALLY ASKED, YOU COULD STILL BE ASLEEP!" Without even bothering to reach the door, Endymion stretched out his hand and used magic to fling it open. 'He's got magic!' Rini gasped. Of course, when she looked back, that was rather obvious, but to see the proof face to face was a little freaky. At home, only her family and the scouts had magic and as a result, she didn't get to see much of it.

"LEAVE-ME-ALONE!!" Before Endymion could shut the door in his face, Zoisite leapt into the room. Rini had expected his face to be contorted in frustration, but he'd seemed to be staring agape in surprise. At least, agape for a man who was never supposed to change his facial expression from mildly interested and indifferent. Rini looked towards the others for something tangibly familiar as the emotional response to being yelled at. None of them struck her as annoyed, frustrated, or even angry themselves; they all had distinct looks of worry. Which forced Rini to look back at Endy's furious face and attempt to puzzle together why his being angry at being woken up at 7 something in the morning was something to be distraught about.

At around the time Rini was thinking hard on the subject, Nephrite and Malachite both strolled into the room from their own. Well...Malachite strolled, Nephrite walked. There was a difference: Nephrite enjoyed being up early and therefore could tread easily in a form of enlightenment and attachment to the morning. He walked into the room. Malachite strolled to cover the fact he hated mornings with a passion, but was forced to grace them with his presence, so he might as well make the impression they didn't bother him... Rini wondered distantly if they didn't bother him anymore. He was the only garren to manage a placid and firm smile...the rest of their shaky ones had long since fallen to become deep frowns of worry.

"Endy..." he murmured, approaching his prince with ease. The others seemed to think he was crazy and were looking like they wouldn't have gone near Endymion with a 10 foot pole. Endymion whirled around, forgetting to not give Malachite the death glares meant for Zoisite. Or perhaps he did that on purpose...

"What?" Endymion hissed, not bothering to back off the glares. Malachite didn't bat an 

eye.

"Need I remind you of a certain someone who, if we summoned her, would beat you senseless if she found out you were about to cut Zoi into small pieces only because he woke you up 2 hours after he himself had risen to slave over papers so they'd be ready in time so you wouldn't have to do it yourself, be late and therefore in trouble? Although she'd probably mash you into bits just because you threatened Zoi, no reason necessary..."

Endymion stared at Mal blankly. The deep circles under his eyes reminded Rini of how her papa looked whenever her mama made him sleep on the couch. Guilt began to creep in on her...perhaps this entire fiasco was her fault, for coming here in the first place. Just like everything seemed to be her fault lately. "Ren?" Endymion tried to answer Malachite's question. Rini noticed he paled slightly at the name. Or maybe it was something else...?

"I was thinking more about Amaya," Malachite gave a knowing look towards Zoisite, who was studying the ground, a thorough blush on his face at the name, "but you're right, we'd summon Amaya who'd in return try to understand and be complacent about Endymion's emotions, yet still explain her secret troubles to Ren, and Ren in a fury similar to that of our dear Princess Quartz would make her way here in a flash and you'd not survive to see your throne. Yes, that sounds about right." Endymion looked horrified at, what Rini couldn't be sure, but suspected was either the sequence of events Malachite had laid before them or his own suggestion of this 'Ren' person. Either way, he'd been shaken out of his rage, which had been Malachite's point. Glancing around at the others, she guessed this didn't happen often. Although Helios was silently applauding the captain. "Now," Malachite continued, "we'll give you a couple minutes to change and then I expect to see you in the study, hard at work with Zoi. Understood?"

With a growl, Endymion nodded. Malachite walked out the doors Zoisite had come in, closely followed by Zoi. The other garren and Helios took to their own rooms instead. And Rini and Endymion were left alone, Rini standing stalk still.

- -

Nephrite, Jadeite, and Helios hurried out into the corridor that connected all of their rooms in time to skid to a halt behind Malachie and Zoisite.

"What was that?!"
"Well done, Mal, I didn't know you had it in you to actually CALM Endymion down..."

"Any ideas what was wrong?"

"So, Zoi, you and Amaya getting into a heavier relationship?"

Malachite held up a hand for some sort of silence. "I have no idea what's wrong with him," he stated, staring at them all. "He was fine yesterday, and the day before, and even in the early hours this morning, as you all know. I am no more aware of what really set him off than you guys." And all eyes turned to Helios.



The baffled priest held up his hands, palms up. "Why do you always assume I have all the answers when it comes to Endymion?"

"Because whenever Mal doesn't, you usually do," Nephrite replied steadily.

Helios sighed deeply. "It could be something to do with part of him still being stuck in the dream phase," he mused after a moment. The looks he got caused a little smile to crack on his face. "That is, however, highly unlikely. And there wouldn't be a doubt in my mind if that were the case, gentlemen. It's probably just that he feels thinly spread, as well as the fact that in two days time he'll be eating breakfast with his mother and father in Amaranta. That's bound to be a cheery experience..."

"I'd forgotten about going to Amaranta...that explains everything then," Nephrite said mildly. "The High Council of Terra meets before winter days plunder all the castle's warmth...surely Endymion's excited there. Additionally, his relationship with the High King and Queen has never been quote 'cheery'. A little more appreciation on their part..." Nephrite trailed off and the others nodded. It had never been a secret from any of them, even Jadeite, that Endymion and his parents shared a strained bond, if it could be called even that. Of course, the garren who'd been around the longest had the best idea of why that was. Malachite and Helios, to be precise, knew exactly why Endymion would never say he loved his parents. The reason was something they carried with them forever, something they didn't tell the other garren because the others never asked. Yet everyone knew the time would come...

Zoisite sighed, the first sign of life within him. "Well, I'd better get on task before Endymion gets in the study and doesn't find me there. I'd never be able to find him in return..." The group of Endymion's protectors broke apart to go about their daily duties.

- -

Endymion began to mutter to himself almost immediately after he could be sure the others were out of ear shot. Of course, he hadn't taken into account or even remembered that Rini still existed. His exhausted brain, still fuzzy with a ferocious undercurrent of thoughts and worries, didn't feel another presence in his room. But then, it didn't even acknowledge he'd slipped from Terranaia into Old Language.

'Terranaia...that's what they've all been speaking!' Something within Rini clicked. She KNEW it hadn't been the language of Crystal Tokyo...no, this came long before the time that all languages from the Previous Earth, or the Earth previous to the calamity Rini's mother had saved it from, had been compiled together to form a Basic language. Terranaia was another ancient language of the Old Earth, from an almost legendary time where the other planets had lived and without the aid of Neo-Queen Serenity's Imperium Silver Crystal. Though Terranaia's age was nothing compared to that of Old Language, which was the epitome of 'old'. Old Language, the language from before time itself, made men with canyons for faces look newly born by comparison... 'It's kind of odd that Endymion knows Old Language...no one but Mama and Papa and the senshi know it...and even the senshi know it only in moderation. But then, it's odd for him to know Terranaia and be speaking it. Surely this isn't a time when it's still a living 

language?!'

As Rini's thoughts stopped out of shock, Endymion's flowed forward from his mouth. "-temper. Zoi'll be quiet all week now thanks to my own stupidity. Which means I'll be forced to do my own research. There's no one to blame but myself...and Ren. Yes, I can blame Ren...after all, she's not here to defend herself..." Rini had to admit- she almost sniggered. Almost. She caught herself, however. She didn't know who this 'Ren' person was but she didn't really feel sorry for her. After all, whoever she was, the mere thought of her managed to throttle Endymion enough to get him back to his senses. It was only right, Rini rationalized, that she allow Endymion some sort of feeling that he had won in some way. She doubted whomever 'Ren' was would allow this feeling to last for any extended period of time anyway. Why should Rini be the one to disappoint him when he was so obviously pouring his heart and soul out into his little scenario right now. "-and there was that time she told Mal on me for purposefully stepping on her toes...although that was quite petty of me, but still, she deserves SOMETHING for all those nasty little things she did to me! Doesn't she?? I say some blame is in order..."

Rini, taking a deep yet quiet breath, slowly made her way towards the bookcase, as well as the corner with Endymion's crown in it. She wished to study it and his literature much closer, and he was still too absorbed in his ramblings to notice her. He was hap hazardously throwing on clothes, muttering about the injustices of threats that weren't empty. "Malachite has absolutely NO right to set his sister on me, as well as no authority...why do I listen? Why do I allow myself this humiliation? ...yes, it's true, she WOULD tear me apart if anything I did to Zoisite in turn upset Amaya enough to have Amaya go to her for condolence. Perhaps I should have a talk with Amaya about how if Zoi ever should be killed in the line of duty, even by my hands, that it might be best to keep it from Ren...no, that'd be silly...they all confide in her...damn..."

Rini absently smiled, then turned her head back to the circlet of a crown Endymion donned during rituals and ceremonies and balls. The fact the crown wasn't part of his wardrobe each day told Rini he was even more similar to her father. He never felt comfortable in a crown...but then neither did her mother; it was a requirement for the Queen to show her power in some form. The Royal Crest on Serenity's forehead, apparently, didn't satisfy the public enough. As Rini would be inheriting the crown, she was already being tutored on the proper way to carry that heavy weight on both her shoulders and her head. Rini was still four and a half years from being the official court age of ten- that was why her parents had no ground to force her into wearing formal dresses day in and day out. Not that the Queen and King ever really tried to force her into a dress...both always said they preferred the freedom of unofficial dress. And on the rare occasions the family got away for a weekend, there was always a thorough dress-down. Yet, formal wear or not, Rini couldn't get out of balancing the heavy crown atop her pink hair. If the crown the tutors meant for her to practice with looked as pretty as Endymion's, she thought, she might not complain as much.

Rini enjoyed simple beauty; everything was fancy when you were a princess, so simple yet elegant appealed to her aesthetic sense. Endymion's crown was about an inch thick, and solid gold. It was engraved all around with what resembled silver vines, though Rini expected it was actually white gold. The detail to the vines made even some of the most extravagant works of art Rini'd been forced to admire look plain. Rini smiled fondly- to be attached to one's planet was a 

necessity of a good ruler, so it was implemented in even the clothes they wore. The more connections available, the better. At the center of the circlet, a dark, magnificently green jewel glinted mischievously at her. If Rini hadn't already been used to a particular jewel which seemed to have a mind of its own, she might have been startled by the personification. However, her mother's gem had the same habit of almost winking at her. It became annoyingly unnerving after a while... The striking Earth gem was set in a similar silver/white gold pattern as the rest of the crown implemented. All in all, Rini envied Endymion. Her own tiarra had never looked as inviting to wear- more like heavy. But then, Rini suspected, princes needed more persuasion to even wear crowns. Perhaps this was the way Endymion's parents apologized to the life he'd been born to live...Rini often wished her own would.

"So," Endymion's voice startled Rini out of her slowly churning memories, "I see you've found that cursed thing..."

"C-cursed?" Rini couldn't help her voice from faltering. Endymion thought it odd that this child looked danger, enemies, strangers in the eye steadily but lost her voice at the mention of a common magic spell. Well, not common, but familiar...

"Not really," Endymion smiled sheepishly from his side of the room. Rini almost snapped her fingers in dismay that he'd realized she was present. She'd spent too much time admiring one thing to look at much else. There was always later, she assumed... "See anything else of interest?" Rini's eyes snapped up to look directly in Endymion's. Could he read minds?

"Mmmm..." she glanced around at his crown. She wasn't really asking for an explanation, it told her enough. But she would rather explore on her own...and ask questions later.

"Yes, that thing..." he sighed, approaching her side. Rini felt a little put out by the fact that the table, of which she was shorter than, was towered over by Endymion. "Isn't yours as pretty?"

Rini felt the blood rush to her face before she could absorb what he said. He knew...he knew!! Could she run? Hide? Where...the key wouldn't work for another week, not properly...perhaps it would, Pluto had never specified a time restraint...yes, that was-

"Rini, I'm the Crown Prince of Earth, as you might've guessed. And I know something about what's going on with you through a terran power, aShlin. They're visions...almost like dreams...you may have experienced something like them before? Even heard about them from someone?" Rini gave no sign of even having heard him. Endymion knew she was listening, though, so he continued on. "I know you're from a different time, and I can guess it's far in the future. Beyond that, I don't know much except what you've told me and what I can conjecture from broken pieces I've seen. Now," he glanced down at Rini beside him. She was trembling fiercely, looking straight ahead. Her clenched fists told Endymion what to say next.

"You don't have to tell me anything yet." Endymion knelt in front of her, taking both shoulders in his hands, unable to watch her tremble any longer. "But whatever you are searching for, whoever you are trying to save, I can say without a doubt that the ones who love you would 

never allow their princess to wander an unknown, possible enemy territory alone. Therefore," Rini's wary look almost unnerved Endymion, "I would appreciate it if you stayed here, with us. And let us help you." Rini opened her mouth. Endymion wasn't sure what she meant to say (but then neither was she), yet still he interrupted before she could make a sound. "If anyone can understand the need to be independent in an endeavour of dire need, it is me. But neither I nor any of us, and by that I mean Helios, Nephrite, Zoisite, Jadeite, Malachite, and Rose, all of us want to see you safely back to your home or your next destination. We would be honored," Endymion took her hands, and bowed his head to them, "if you would grace us with your presence."

Rini waited a moment to think. Endymion could see her thoughts turning, feel them through her hands. He hoped she wouldn't refuse...she needed this training in aShlin almost as much as he needed her trained in aShlin. And having her understand the other powers that came along with being of Terran descent wouldn't harm either of them, or anyone else who crossed her path unknowingly as well.

Rini didn't sense the enemy. But then, she hadn't been able to then either... Yet from somewhere within came the far away feeling of trust. This man, this prince...the comfort she felt in his presence, as well as that of his guard (they might be a little unnerving, but not as unnerving as others she'd met previously and come to love) was not coincidental. Destiny had its way with the outcome of the worlds. She was a toy of destiny, so she'd play along with what was said to be fate.

"I...thank you," Rini managed to speak. And she was greeted, warmly, by Endymion's smile.

"Good..." he glanced at the doors that led out of his room distractedly, then looked back to Rini. "There's one more thing I ask of you: will you train with Rose?" The blank stare he received forced him to use all the restraints he had on his emotions for the sake of not laughing in Rini's face.

"Train with your sister?" Rini asked, as if she wasn't quite sure she grasped the concept. "Why ever would she want me around after yesterday..." 'Ah, Rini...yesterday is exactly why she'd want you around.' But Endymion couldn't say that aloud.

"Oh, things like yesterday happen on a daily basis. Don't worry about it. As long as you're here, you might as well hone your skills, right?" Endymion said, dancing around the true answer. HE wasn't going to be the one to tell her that she needed to train up in order to keep her power in order.

Rini nodded a bit, smiled, and nodded some more as realization dawned on her that she would be able to save her mother, and that everything in the world could be alright someday. She looked towards Endymion.

"Now," he said, clapping his hands together expectantly, a strained smile on his face, "I get to go work with Zoisite. Try to stay within this wing of the palace for now, and if you get 

lost, ask anyone how to get back to the Rose Corridor, and they'll lead you here. I should be finished around the High Hour...so we can eat together then. The kitchens are just two halls away if you get hungry before then..." Endymion glanced down at Rini again. "After I've finished with Zoi, I'll look for Lady Marganta again..." Grimly, Endymion sighed at the prospect. That woman was harder to find than...than...Ren when she played hide and seek!

- -

Zoisite slammed shut another book loudly as Helios casually entered the abandoned study. He glanced at the exhausted Zoisite and wondered if the circles under his own eyes were as prominent... "Slow going?" he queried. Zoisite, in response, snorted. Helios stole his regular spot on the end of the table. "Need any help?" The words came out of his mouth with such ease Helios wondered if he ever really did think before he spoke. As if he had the time to help anyone with everything on his own plate. He should have spent the previous day doing work. Instead he'd found himself wandering the palace with Endymion and the ever-mysterious child, procrastinating until he found himself unable to, which coincided with about the time he left the dreamscape and came to realize it was a couple turns until dawn.

Yet Zoisite's hopeful gaze prohibited him from taking back his offered assistance. With a grand sigh, Helios jumped off the table and sat next to Zoi. "These are the documents Endymion has to proof before taking them before the Council, this is something for Minesstro Cardelli personally, these are..." Zoisite, aside from being in Endymion's Garren, had still another tiring job. Often, Helios wondered how the man lived and still managed to, even while exhausted, maintain a look of serene calmness (except, of course, at that moment when the worry lines were threatening to crease Zoisite's forehead permanently). Helios worked as High Priest-that was enough for him. Zoisite, even before becoming an official Garren member, had been raised to become one of the High Council of Terra, following in his grandfather, the Minesstro Adine's, footsteps. Minesstro Cardelli, a close friend of Zoisite's grandfather, took him on as an apprentice when Zoi was only 13 (which was remarkable, as most minesstros didn't train men younger than 30 for their positions). Since then, along with work as a Garren, Zoisite worked for the Minesstro as well. Helios always had to fight the urge to tell Zoi he was lucky to be so close to the Terran royalty himself, because often Zoisite's ties to Endymion only caused him more problems and therefore, more paperwork.

As they slowly made their way through the stacks, something caught Helios's eye...a book that didn't quite belong. "Zoi...why are you looking up different stones?" One of Helios's eyebrows rose, and Helios allowed his own mind to wander a bit as Zoisite's tired one took in the book and attempted to remember his reasoning for having it out. It was custom with many civilizations, as well as popular, to name at least one child after a rare stone. Many of the population of Terra were named for gems and jewels of sort-the Terrans found it as a way of thanking Ceres for Her treasured gift of children. Helios himself found it odd, but Zoi and Nephrite had always been the more superstitiously religious sort...perhaps things were going smoother with Amaya than Zoi had let on. Or...

"Rini's mother...you and Endymion said she was in some sort of crystal. I was trying, and failing miserably I might add, to figure out what she'd been placed in. But we don't even have 

any books on the Sailors...not even the fairytales...so I thought perhaps I'd find it somewhere in one of these." Zoisite gestured to some of the books Helios had missed, which were indeed about stones and crystals. Helios flipped through some of the pages hesitantly. He didn't want to ask how Zoisite, within the few odd hours he'd even known about Rini's mother's predicament, had found any time to pull a couple books from the library. Helios had long before decided there was an unwritten rule of protocol prohibiting his asking that question. Otherwise, he was sure, he would have mastered whatever magic Zoisite used to stay awake and aware.

"Zoi," he broke the silence after a moment of staring intently at the book's pages. The scratch of Zoisite's quill stopped, and Helios didn't bother to look up from the page he was examining. "How about I take this little project off your hands?"

"What?"

"Well, you only know in theory what Rini's mother is in. I happened to see what it looked like, and that definitely helps. Plus, with the High Council meeting in Amaranta at the end of Jupitezum is just in 1 week and you never have any time to spare during the Council's meeting. Plus you'll be gone in Amaranta that entire time. Meanwhile, we have to forget Rini's mother. I'll do this, alright?" Helios looked up to meet Zoisite's reluctant yet thankful eyes. "That way we have more of a chance of success in both the Council and helping Rini."

"Alright..." Zoisite agreed, smiling wanly. "But if it gets to be too much for you, Helios, don't hesitate to come back to me..." With a wave of his hand, Helios re-immersed himself in the book. Anything to help that little girl...

- -

Endymion left soon after his talk with Rini. Although he thought he'd planted a perfectly optimistic look on his face, Rini saw right through it into the frazzle. Once again she was reminded of her father- he always thought he was extra-good at being a stone wall, but she and Mama were just too good by this point in time to fall for that trick. Rini was struck by how well her Papa's parents had named him...if this Crown Prince Endymion of Earth was her father's namesake, her Grandmama and Grandpapa had surely done their share of research...

"Anyway," she spoke aloud, turning back to the magnificent room before her, "he just doesn't like meetings with Zoisite, I'm sure. Shan't let it bother me." With a gleeful grin, she looked meaningfully towards the bookshelves. She had at least until High Noon to sort through those books, and begin to decipher at least 2 new languages...

"Ezra, you chIAAAAAAA!" A middleaged woman strode into Endymion's room, only to see Rini and drop her half of the trunk she was carrying in surprise.

"Lady Marganta!" a young voice, who's owner was covered by the door, screeched as the heavy trunk thudded to the ground. It was quite obvious the trunk required two people for it to remain mobile.



Rini scuttled away from the bookcase she'd edged towards earlier, quite as startled as Lady Marganta and her young companion, a dark haired youth of 14 with large, bright eyes and who Rini guessed was Ezra. She wondered how Endymion, she, and the others could have missed the woman. Her imposing nature seemed to give off an atmosphere of importance and authority. The woman did not have any incredible features to give her such an atmosphere; her clothes were practical, not pretty, her face slightly wrinkled and rather plain, her dark hair streaked with grey and pulled back into a tight knot. All the same, even Rini felt like bowing in this woman's presence. No wonder Ezra seemed so troubled standing by her. Rini pitied the girl almost as much as she pitied herself, who was at the opposing end of Lady Marganta's glare.

"Explain. Now." The woman bellowed to Rini's astonishment. Had she ever been talked to that way before? ...No, not that she could recall. There had been that one incident with- "Speak, you, or can't you?" Rini almost wished she couldn't.

"Well, Endymion told me to wait in here-" Rini hadn't realized the other two had sucked in their breath until she was halfway through her sentence, when Lady Marganta blustered it back out again.

"How DARE you refer to his Highness so...freely! That's a week in the kitchens, that is! Now hurry back along. I don't know what you were up to here, but obviously no good. And don't give me ANY buts, missie, you're lucky it's not a MONTH on kitchen duty for your lack of manners and well as your out-of-zoning AND-" Rini trembled under the woman's steady gaze, "-your lack of proper wardrobe. Misdemeanours like that can cost you your JOB, as I'm sure you've been told many times. Or perhaps you're new?" Rini nodded fervently, if only to see a little softness appear on the face before her. "Ezra, lead the way for her. Make sure she doesn't get into any FURTHER trouble... Report back here as soon as you've finished with her."

Ezra acknowledged the woman's order by grabbing Rini's hand, and dragging her out into the hallway.Rini watched, almost in slow motion, as she was dragged farther and farther away from the zone of the place that was anything close to recognizable. If she'd passed an open door with a familiar face in it, Rini might have decided to make a noise. But as none of the doors were even open, she wasn't given the chance. So Rini continued on after the girl, unsure of everything at that point. What in the name of the Goddess did you say to someone dragging you by the arm? She desperately wanted to ask at least where Ezra would be dropping her off. But then, she had no desire to become decapitated for asking questions. Rini's keen eyes had witnessed servants being told off by elder servants for querying. Avoiding confrontation seemed Rini's best bet. In order to do such, Rini needed to figure out a plan of action. Think militarily...or at least ahead of time.

So this girl obviously thought Rini worked somewhere in the palace. At some point, Ezra would have to ask Rini, at which point Rini could (hopefully) right things and say she was...

What was she? Endymion's guest? No one but the Garren and Rose knew she was there, and if this palace was run anything similar to hers, Ezra wasn't going to bother to ask them. She'd just throw her out for 'lies'. Then what could Rini do? Being this close to royalty and resources meant she had the best chance to find the Silver Crystal. Outside the palace...well, if it came to 

that, she'd just figure a way around it. Persevere. Or perhaps she could wait for Endymion to realize she was gone. But that was relying on others, of which Rini had explicitly told herself she would not do. Rini began to chew on her lip out of frustration and thought, not noticing that she and Ezra had stopped and Ezra now stared down at her, puzzled.

"Girlie," Rini looked up, startled, as Ezra poked her side faintly. Ezra jumped equally as much. This surprised Rini more than the kind, almost motherly look Ezra's shy face now held. Rini was reminded of one of her mother's younger maids, Aexa, who had always been one of the kindest elder girls Rini had known. Although within court, a servant's role was often etched in stone, Rini didn't hold with the ideals of court. Her mother seemed to have problems with them as well, which half lent Rini the courage to go outside the lines drawn for her. A few special servants at home, who regarded Rini as a person and not a crown, treated Rini as a member of their own families. The familiar look they all gave her filled Ezra's strange, dark eyes. Rini suspected that this girl had one of those rare, truly kind hearts. "Don't startle me like that," the girl said, one hand to her heart, smiling shyly. Rini gave her an apologetic look but wasn't quite ready to speak. "Sorry about having to hurry you over here, but my aunt would kill me if she knew I was even talking to you and I have a limited amount of time anyway... You're a curious little girl, so I was wondering, who are you? You're not related to any of the maids, to my knowledge, and you're new, so-"

Rini caught her breath, and before she lost her nerve, managed to say, "I'm visiting his Highness. I'm his..." Rini tried to brandish some control over her voice, as well as thoughts. Luckily, the training she'd despised for the last three years came to her mind, and suddenly her regal stance took over and Rini found herself standing tall with her chin raised, back straight, head high, and most importantly, voice strong. Rini only hoped it was possible for Endymion to have cousins..."Cousin. I'm visiting my cousin, quite unexpectedly I'm afraid."

The skeptic eyebrow was barely visible, which meant good things for Rini and her skills as a...truth stretcher. After all, she was surely related to Endymion somehow. At the least she was related to his crown. "Why didn't Lady Marganta know you then? You can't tell me she didn't recognize you, my aunt forgets no one." Ezra crossed her arms, looking down at Rini expectantly.

"We looked all over for her yesterday, but never found her," Rini answered truthfully. "I slept in En-his Highness's chamber last night and we expected to find Lady Marganta today."

"I see..." the suspicion moved out of Ezra's expression. Rini was lucky, she thought. Ezra seemed to be the trustful type. Many servants who worked at home never found that kind of trust within their hearts. Rini thanked the Heavens Ezra had accompanied her aunt that morning. "Still, you probably need to get fit for some clothes..." Ezra continued, grabbing Rini's hand as Rini's head snapped back to look at the elder girl. Clothes? As in servant clothes? As in she'd be WORKING as a servant and never find her way back to Endymion's corridor?? "I believe you, but if my aunt found you before his Highness explained the situation, not only would you be doomed, I'd be in for it as well. At least if you're dressed like me, she'll think you're on your way to do your job." Ezra smiled as Rini sighed in relief. "Follow me!" With a look that could've matched a young child's, Ezra sprang forward and Rini had to run in order to even catch a 

glimpse.

Rini wasn't really aware of where she was being led until she was looking around at a less-decorative part of the castle. Servant's quarters, she realized. 'Well, they're not too bad off...' she couldn't help but think. Ezra had slowed to a stop in front of one of the doors. Rini watched expectantly as she opened it.

The interior, though not nearly as large as Endymion's chamber, looked about the size of 1/4 of Rini's room at home. It was well furnished, and though not as elegant and princey, Rini found herself struck by the thought 'home' upon entering. Which was strange, considering Endymion's room so reminded her of her own father. That another complete stranger managed to also occupy a room that reminded her of her own palace was quite odd, at the least. Rini could only wonder though.

Ezra hurried across the wood floors, which creaked as she walked, toward the dark chest of drawers. Glancing around in curiosity, Rini found another bookcase with books. She turned back to Ezra in order to ask about them to find the older girl strewing clothes all around the room, searching for something that would fit Rini. "Way too big...too big...too long..."

"Ezra," Rini began, in order to ask her about the assortment of books. It was not an often occurrence to find books in servant's rooms. All of those who worked at Rini's palace were literate, yes, and had books, but this wasn't the 30th century. It wasn't even the 20th.

"By the way, what's your name?" Ezra didn't seem to have heard Rini and was still sorting through her drawers.

"Rini. Ezra, what are all these books?" Rini had approached the bookcase to take a closer look. THESE books might tell her where she was, as she couldn't get near Endymion's now.

"Oh," Ezra turned around and gave the books a fond smile. "My father was a scholar of sorts. A philosopher, really. He taught me to read when I was young, and any spare time and money I have are spent with those books. Here we are, this seems about right." Rini looked nervously at the garment Ezra held. It was a long, cream night-gownish dress. She was supposed to look like a worker in a night gown? Ezra, much to Rini's surprise, started laughing hysterically. Rini could only guess it was at her face. "This is the under dress. See?" Ezra lifted up her own brown dress to reveal the same sort of dress as the one she wore underneath. "You must not be from nearby..."

Rini shook her head adamantly as she took the dress. "That figures. Now let me see if I have any over dresses that are short enough...I might have to hem one quickly." Rini slipped the dress on over her head, carefully laying the shirt Endymion had lent her to sleep in aside. He'd probably want it back. Rini looked down at herself and cringed. The cream nightgown thing layered at her feet, hanging off her and allowing enough fabric for a second dress. She stared helplessly at Ezra's back as the other girl searched through her wardrobe among the many identical, brown dresses. "Aha! Here's one! A little long, perhaps, but-" Ezra turned back to Rini and laughed once more. Rini felt color tint her face. "Oh don't," Rini said, almost feeling like 

crumbling.

"Rini-rini, it's okay, I'll just quickly shorten it, no harm done," Ezra chuckled, and returned to her wardrobe. Rini stared dejectedly at the ground. The other returned with a large sewing basket, scissors, and a wicked grin. "This'll take 10 minutes tops. My aunt can miss me for that long..."

As Ezra snipped off bits and pieces of the dress, Rini began to ask her curious questions. She wanted to know where Ezra had lived, what her family was like, what life was like here, how long she'd been there, if she had any pets even...

"Well, I lived in Amaranta until I was about your age. My dad worked at the palace in the library-I'm sure you've heard about Amaranta's Library." Although Rini hadn't, she nodded affirmatively. "Anyway, he and my mother both came down with some odd disease. I did too, but I survived. Can't say the same for Mom and Dad. So I came here when I was six to live with my aunt. She's been teaching me, almost as an apprentice. She plans on giving me her position once I'm old enough to take on the responsibility. As is, I wouldn't be able to handle it. There," with a final snip of the scissors, Rini looked down and found she wasn't standing in a mound of cloth anymore, but could see her feet. Ezra had even hemmed along the way.

"My mother had been a dress maker," Ezra continued, pulling the darker dress over Rini's head. "One of the best in Amaranta. She was my aunt's sister. They used to work here together, my mother as a seamstress and aunt as one of the maids. When my mother married my father, she went with him to Amaranta. My aunt didn't really take to my father, so I hadn't even really met her before I came here. Maybe once or twice, briefly. Even so...she loved my mother dearly, you see, and loved me because of my mother. She treats me like her own daughter most of the time. I can't really say I treat her like I did my own mother, but she's like a mother to me." As Rini looked down into Ezra's eyes as the other girl fastidiously sewed, Rini recognized the love and endearment of family. She found she rather missed that look reflecting in her family's eyes. 'I'll have it back in no time,' she told herself affirmitively, so as not to cry. "What about you?" Rini looked down into Ezra's gaze, now directed straight into Rini's rose eyes.

"I'm...a long way from home," Rini said finally, hoping Ezra wasn't the type to pry further. "I need Endy-his Highness's help, to save my mother."

"I see...Well, if ever you need-" A loud banging erupted from Ezra's closed, and locked, door. "Oh Rayda," Ezra cursed, "I'm in for it now, being in my room an hour after work begins... Wait one second!" As the girl headed for the doors, Rini dove under a nearby bed. Listening to Ezra's discipline made Rini wince. But what made her feel even worse was the sound of the door shutting once more, and complete silence flooding the room.

Rini was lost in the servant's quarters...in servant garb...and had absolutely no talent for any sort of cleaning, cooking, or anything domestically related. Her time in the palace as a servant was limited. Hopefully she could survive a day.

- -