Well, here we are at last! Sorry about the last few updates being really slow in coming. I thank my proboard pals, my other readers, my constant and absolutely darling reviewer StrataLight (hugs and kisses to ya!), and my boyfriend for putting up with me during this. I know i've said it before but this time I mean it; things are finally starting to heat up around here.
As for the questions about Queen Selenity of the White Moon, ;) secret for now. Sorry. I'm trying to involve Lita and Rei more now so their characters should soon be developing for ya nicely. And don't those Ocs say some weird little things? Slips of their tongues you might say ;)
Anyway, enough of the aimless blabbing, time to get on with the show! STAGE ON!
"You want to do what?" Rei blinked.
Serena and Seiya were sitting with her and Lita on the top of the shrine steps. Lita was looking just as shocked at being asked to join in on this little venture.
Serena nodded. "Taiki and Yaten have been such a help to me, as has Seiya. I want to do something for them, to thank them." She looked at a cherry blossom tree nearby and smiled. "I know where Taiki's heart lies, at least. I want to help him achieve his desire."
"And Yaten too?" Lita asked. When Serena and Seiya both nodded she blew her bangs from her eyes. "It'll be difficult; Amy and Taiki are not idiots, they're the smartest people we know."
"And Mina is the self-proclaimed Goddess of Love." Added Rei quietly.
"I know that." Serena waved it off. "But she's blind to herself. So, will you guys help?"
The Senshi of Fire and Passion and the Senshi of Thunder and Strength were silent. The other two waited with held breath. They could do it alone, but it would be far easier if they had help. Blaze already knew and had agreed to help; Seiya suspected that being around the Moon Princess brought out a mischievous side to the Fireball Princess that few ever saw.
Something told him that if the third member entered the picture – Taiki had told him about the conversation in the library, a few days ago now – then this impish side would grow even more.
Finally, after taking a deep breath, Rei spoke. "It won't be easy, but there is a particular tree within the boundary of the shrine that is said to bring fortune and ever-lasting love if a couple were to confess beneath its boughs. It seems like a fitting setting for Amy and Taiki to tell each other how they feel."
Serena clapped her hands and squealed with delight, throwing her arms around the miko's neck. Rei laughed it off and grinned, enjoying her Princess's delight.
"And I dare-say I could whip up a special something for Mina and Yaten; they both like to be pampered. Maybe I could research and create a wishing cake for them. My cooking mentor mentioned them once. I expect he wouldn't mind telling me about them. They're an old English tradition since ancient times."
Seiya winked his thanks and she smiled warmly in return. Serena threw one arm around Lita so that she sat between the two more hot-tempered of her Inner court, grinning like an idiot.
"Guys this will be so awesome! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
The other three laughed at the blonde's antics. All three were just happy to see her smiling again.
But Seiya's eyes were almost entirely untouched by his smile; he had yet to tell his Odango about the events on Kinmoku, and he was dreading it. He wondered when he should tell her. He knew it should be sooner rather than later, but he didn't want to take away her happiness.
He would tell her soon. For now he just wanted to bask in the warm glow of her light for a little longer.
Sailor Pluto stood before the Chronus Gates, Garnet Staff in hand, straight-backed and proud, watching the ebb and flow of Time around her.
'Am I doing the right thing?' she thought to herself quietly. Then she turned her face to the swirling sky above her Realm. 'Yes, it has to be the correct course. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with Time.'
"But I wish there was another way." She murmured.
"Why Pluto, are you questioning yourself?"
The voice was even in tone, neutral. It was polite, but there was the sense of an iron will behind it.
Pluto was instantly on alert. "Who is there? This Realm is forbidden to an outsider!"
A chuckle. "Pluto, Pluto, can old friends not visit each other?"
Pluto narrowed her eyes, but they widened in shock as the figure stepped into view.
The girl that stepped from the shrouding mists appeared in her early twenties, but Pluto knew it to be appearance only; this girl was as old as she and so were her comrades.
Her long calf-length violet hair swayed with her movements, her amber eyes sharp and focused as ever, like a hawk's, like golden Tiger's Eye. Her Senshi uniform was different and yet very similar to the one worn by Pluto and the Sol Senshi; the bodice was utterly sleeveless, attached only to the skirt and to her sailor collar, with a large golden oval jewel at the point where the collar met the bodice, where the bow was placed on Pluto's fuku.
The bodice, collar and most of the skirt was a deep blue-green, metallic, shimmering, two-toned. A stripe at the base of the skirt, the band connecting skirt to bodice, a strip at the top of the bodice were a contrasting hue of magenta, and her choker was blue-green, from which hung a symbol in shimmering gold, the same symbol upon her forehead in place of tiara was in the same green-blue of her outfit but glowed magenta. The bow at the back of the skirt was the same warm pink.
The boots were mid calf-high and shimmering the same as the skirt, with a magenta stripe going up along the outside of each boot. On each wrist was a wide gold band reaching halfway to her elbow, studded with magenta jewels and gripping pale magenta sheer gloves in place. Slimmer golden bands encircled her upper arms, and from her ears hung golden diamonds from a gold stud, each diamond shape encircled by a ring crossing horizontally across them.
The Senshi stopped a few feet from Pluto and stood with a hand on her hip, standing on her hip the way most girls can instinctively stand. She had a small, almost hidden smile on her face, but the eyes remained distant.
"Sailor Asrar." Pluto whispered. She looked very much as though she had just seen a ghost; Pluto had not seen this Senshi in a thousand years. "Why are you . . ."
"Our leader has sensed a strange force at work recently. She has sent me to ask if you know anything about it." Asrar paused, looking Pluto in the eye critically, calculatingly. "You wouldn't know anything about it, would you?"
Pluto shook her head, saying nothing about the accusing tone that was used. "I have spent much more time on Earth lately than I have here." She admitted. "But my senses have remained open. I have not felt these vibrations."
Asrar nodded. "Of course, I was merely checking." Asrar went quiet, thinking.
"If you don't mind my asking," Pluto began quietly, "I thought you had died with the Siriun Constellation, with the others."
Asrar looked at her, her amber eyes appeared misty with the memories. "We nearly did." She said quietly. "We were overwhelmed from the start. Celestia managed to shroud us both in her solar winds. Knight Tiranus and Saviour were both within the Realm and so were protected. When the shielding winds dissipated we were in the middle of a desolate kingdom. Sirius was almost completely destroyed. Our own worlds also, but they had not been targeted nearly as much as the central Kingdom." Asrar looked to the side and into the distance.
"So few survivors . . ." she whispered, almost to herself, before she snapped out of her reverie and looked at Pluto again, amber meeting garnet with a bold, intense stare. "Fear not, Sailor Pluto. Sailor Celestia and Sailor Etherea are safe and well. The Siriun Constellation is returning to its strength."
Pluto nodded, relieved, and made to turn away but stopped when she realised Asrar wasn't leaving.
"You are certain you know nothing at all Pluto? These vibrations trouble our leader. Someone is interfering with Time and Fate where guidance is not needed. Are you sure there is nothing you wish to tell us now"
Pluto shook her head. "Nothing."
Asrar lowered her head. "Very well, then I shall take my leave." She turned and melted into the mists, fading away to nothing.
Pluto sighed in relief. Sailor Asrar had always been a rather intense young woman who missed nothing.
She turned to the gateway behind her, thoughts of her second master fresh on her mind.
Serena was standing behind the counter at work again. Amy and Lita were sat in their usual table near the window doing their homework and sipping coffee. Lita was sampling the latest cake baked by the café's chef, who was a student in Lita's cookery class at college; a double fudge with strawberries and cherries.
The bell chimed its welcome and Rei walked in with Mina and Hotaru.
"Serena!" Rei grinned and waved. She skipped up to the counter and leant across as though examining the cake stand behind the blonde. "All set at the shrine." She winked as she whispered. Serena nodded her acknowledgement just as Seiya walked in with Blaze. The red-head was talking to somebody standing behind the big poster on the window.
"Odango!" Seiya laughed. "How's work?"
"Fine. Can I get you guys anything at all?" she asked with a big smile.
"No, just two coffees and a green tea please." Said Taiki politely. "One coffee with vanilla syrup." he added when Yaten coughed pointedly.
"Coming up." Serena practically sang.
"Blaze hurry up and get in here! Serena's getting your favourite thing in the whole world and you haven't even ordered it yet." Rei laughed. Since their first meeting in the café, the visiting Princess made a habit of coming in on Serena's shift and always ordered the same thing.
Yaten claimed she was addicted to the cake. Blaze would laugh it off but never deny it, and had even found a recipe online and had attempted to make her own, with slightly disastrous results.
Lita had promised her cooking lessons so long as she didn't try to cook again beforehand.
Blaze walked in just as Taiki was carrying the tray over to the table next to Ami and Lita's. She was laughing with somebody who was following her in.
"Serena, how are things today?" she asked cheerfully.
"Things are fine. Taiki took your order to the table already." the blonde laughed in reply.
"Would it be alright to order a second round of what I had? For my friend, of course." Blaze asked politely, moving aside and gesturing to the young woman standing behind her.
Feryal smiled at Serena and winked. "Good morning Serena Tsukino." she said.
"Feryal!" Serena was surprised. "K- . . . Blaze, how do you . . ."
The Fireball Princess laughed."Feryal Makana is an old friend of mine." here she winked, and those words coupled with the action made Serena understand straight away. "I ran into her yesterday evening in the park and she agreed to come here with me today."
"I gotta admit, I'd have never looked at this place twice before, but it's so cute inside I can see why you work here." Feryal winked again. "And Blaze says you have the best cake around."
"Of course." Serena's smile practically glowed. "Go sit over there I'll bring it straight over." Blaze and Feryal obliged and within a minute Serena had brought over a tray with a green tea, a coffee and another slice of cake and sat opposite Feryal and beside Blaze.
"How are you, really, Princess Serenity." Feryal asked as soon as Serena was settled. She was looking at Serena over her hands, which she had clasped under her chin, and now that she was looking properly Serena could see that her eyes were a rich earthy brown with just the hint of gold.
The use of her ancient title made Serena pause. "How do you know that?" she asked quietly.
Feryal smiled. "I know many things." she teased, her face completely serious and contradicting her eyes, which glimmered with mischief. When Blaze rolled her eyes Feryal's smile grew. "I am an old friend. I serve my own master, High Princess Thuraya, as your senshi serve you. Or rather, Empress Thuraya as she is now known; she was crowned a few months ago." Feryal sipped her coffee and now looked completely serious. "Not many outside our own system know this you understand; she wishes for most of the rest of the systems not to know of her return. She is still recovering from certain . . . events, shall we say?"
Serena nodded. "You have my word. But . . . you're a senshi too?"
"Feryal is my civilian name, as Serena is yours. You may call me Feryal, or you may call me Amorina, which is my royal name, or Sailor Celestia if you choose. So long as none of your senshi know who I am. My master is concerned for you, she has felt something which troubles her greatly and she is not sure what is causing it." the girl paused, a frown making its appearance on her face, but it soon dispersed it a soft smile again. "She sends her greetings and wishes of health to the Moon Princess Serenity, and two of her senshi to watch over you in these troubling times when and if your own cannot."
Serena looked at Blaze worryingly. "But, doesn't she need you more than me?" Though the question was directed to Feryal, her worry was aimed for Blaze to see, and Blaze answered her thus.
The other girl shook her head. "There are two others to look after her, Saviour and Knight Tiranus, and besides, Thuraya's more than capable of looking after herself. This is the princess who used to sneak away from her etiquette lessons in order to watch the soldiers of her mother's army train and tried to mimic them." Feryal laughed at Blaze's words and Serena just had to smile at the image of a small princess hiding behind the stable door. "She's the leader of her mother's Army, now her army, and they call her the Lady General."
Feryal looked at Blaze a little oddly now. "But still, you did not tell me that you knew the Princes of the Galaxy Cauldron." she scolded lightly.
"Eh?" Serena was drawing a total blank, which caused Blaze to scowl at Feryal.
"I did not realise that they were the same. I can't remember much from that lifetime." she sipped her own coffee. "How is Saviour?"
"Good." when Feryal realised that Serena was still staring at them blankly she laughed. "Sorry Princess, don't worry about it. Ignore what I said OK." she picked a walnut off the top of the cake and nibbled it. "But still, I wonder why Thuraya never told me." she muttered.
Serena mulled the words over before an idea struck her. Several, actually. "Ne, Feryal?" said girl looked up from toying with the cake. "Could you pass on a message to Thuraya for me?" Feryal mulled over the request for several minutes by picking the cake apart some more. Finally she nodded. "Could you just send her a hello for me, ask how she is? I remember some of it but . . ." the Moon Princess racked her brains, but much was still shrouded in grey.
When she looked up her eyes met warm honey brown orbs. "Of course, Princess. Your message shall take priority and I shall send it tonight when I make my report." Feryal fidgeted. "She still doesn't know we made contact with you, but I know she will be happy to hear from you."
"We?" Blaze and Serena asked at the same time.
"Myself and Asrar." Feryal enlightened them, she was staring at the street outside. "Hey, isn't that the Terran I shocked into silence yesterday?"
Blaze and Serena both whipped their heads round to look. Feryal was right; Darien was standing on the opposite side of the road watching. Seiya and the others appeared to have noticed him at about the same moment for Seiya, Yaten and Taiki all became very intimidating to look at all of a sudden and glared at him. Ami and Mina had placed a hand each on Lita's arms as said girl had begun to rise from her chair. Hotaru's pretty face was neutral, as usual.
"That is Endymion, am I right?" Feryal asked again, looking to Blaze and Serena for confirmation. Serena nodded. Feryal sighed and stood up, but Serena caught her wrist as she went to go outside.
"Please don't, I don't want anybody to get hurt because of me."
Feryal looked at the StarLights, who nodded and sat back down, before kneeling in front of Serena and peering into the blue eyes. "Princess," she whispered, "What has happened?"
Serena's heartbroken expression was the only explanation Feryal needed. Her honey-brown eyes narrowed and darkened a little. She stood, gently pried Serena's fingers from her wrist and moved to the door. Yaten reached it just as she did. They took less than a minute to size each other up – friend or foe? - before both nodded and they moved outside together.
Darien scowled darkly when he saw that neither of those coming to meet him were Serena. "What do you want?" he asked Yaten while eyeing Feryal up and down. Like the day before, he was getting an unusual vibe from her that he didn't trust.
"We could ask you the same thing." Yaten replied, looking up at him with fierce lime-green eyes. Feryal said nothing, only standing with hand on hip a little behind the smallest StarLight and her eyes boring into his. Yaten had his arms crossed and looked less than friendly too.
"That is none of your business." said Darien curtly.
"It is when you wish harm to Serena." Feryal retorted, "And to Seiya."
Yaten shot her a glance; he recognised her, wondered why she was here, but thought little of it for now.
Darien's mouth curled up in a smirk. "And what makes you think it has anything to do with you, little girl?"
Yaten winced; he himself hated being called short by anybody, even his own Princess! He had a feeling that with the blonde the words would have the same effect.
They did.
"Who are you to call me little?" she shouted. "You are a a total jerk who doesn't know what he's got until it's gone, and then wants it back even though he can never have it!"
For the second time in as many days, Darien Shields stared at her in open-mouthed shock as she continued, brushing past Yaten to stand firm in front of the Terran Prince.
"I knew as soon as I saw you that you were no good. That's why I got her away from you! I only wish I'd been able to do as much the last time!" say what? What last time? She poked him in the chest and he took a step back. "Listen my friend because it's the very last time I'll say this to your face before my fist meets your nose! Keep. Away. From. Her. Or."
"You'll what?" Darien's voice, now that he'd recovered it, was mocking as he looked her up and down.
"Or we'll make you stay away from her." Yaten finished, standing beside her.
Darien looked over them to the windows of the café, his gaze finding Serena's and ignoring the others staring at him. Serena's eyes were wide with an emotion that was driving Yaten's empathic abilities crazy and raising his anger levels. Mina had moved to stand beside her and Lita was now stood next to Seiya and Taiki, cracking her knuckles threateningly.
"It's not over." Darien said, turning his eyes back to Yaten's hostile expression.
The silvery StarLight snorted. "We'll see about that."
Darien said nothing, only turned and walked away. Feryal and Yaten stayed right where they were until they saw him turn the corner and then waited for several more heartbeats. When it became clear that he wasn't coming back the two allies sighed and looked at each other wearily before going inside.
Yaten, following Feryal, had barely stepped inside when Mina dragged him into a tight embrace.
"Yaten! That was so brave of you to do that for us. I can't thank you enough." she released him, cheeks barely blushing and her blue eyes shining. "Oh my god the look on his face was a picture! I wish I'd had a camera. That was amazing."
Said young man blushed faintly at the praise. "Was nothing." he mumbled. He heard Seiya snicker behind him and shot a glare in what he hoped was the right direction, but he wasn't sure since Mina had already grabbed his wrist and dragged him away towards the counter shouting "Celebratory milkshakes for everyone!"
Serena, after giving Feryal a hug of thanks, followed to make said milkshakes, rolling her eyes the entire way and pointing out that maybe Yaten would like his arm to be in one piece. Mina paid no heed, and Yaten secretly didn't mind; Mina could drag him all over the Earth and he'd let her. That much he'd learnt during the time he had been apart from her.
Feryal sighed, smiling gently at the scene unfolding before her. Blaze – the Fireball Princess had already filled her in on her identity – caught her eye and smiled, inclining her head in gratitude. Feryal waved it away gently, her eyes saying it was nothing, just doing what I was told, but she knew that Blaze would believe otherwise. Feryal had often been as protective of the other two daughters of the Trinity Alliance as she had been of her own master.
When she turned she caught the eyes of the other Inner Senshi.
Rei's dark eyes were slightly narrowed, dark purple storm clouds in her pale face. There was no hostility, only suspicion. She felt as though she should recognise Feryal, but from where or, indeed when, she couldn't guess. She had the inexplicable urge to trust the stranger almost completely, the way she trusted Lita and Amy and Mina. It made her wary.
Lita's eyes showed the spark of vaguest recognition as well, but whereas Rei's held suspicion her own held only confusion. She too felt the strange connection, maybe not so strongly as with the other senshi of her team but something very similar if only slightly weaker. She instinctively knew that Feryal would give her life for Serena in the same way that she and the others would. And not just for Serena but for Kakyuu, and the StarLights as well.
Amy observed every small trace of body language, expression, anything to tell her more about Feryal. Serena and Blaze both trusted this girl and so would she, but she couldn't figure out why for the life of her. She was so used to having all the facts lying before her like a puzzle, or if not then being able to find them all or already having enough to reach the correct conclusion, that it disconcerted her that she couldn't figure things out.
Mina had felt all these, but she put her trust in her Princess and in Blaze. She knew she would be told in due time and so felt free to focus on other things, like dragging Yaten everywhere by the elbow for example and chat to her best friend.
Seiya inclined his head to Feryal in thanks, as did Taiki. They recognised her now; a soldier who was a whirlwind of curiosity but had a strange melded core of sombreness, independence and fierce loyalty. They knew her Senshi title, recognised her power, and respected her. Yaten, when Mina had turned her gabbing from him to Serena, winked at her to show he knew as well.
Feryal couldn't help the smile now, a tiny quirk of one corner of her lips that showed more in the warm depths of her eyes. She knew that she had been accepted into the strange little family that these people had formed. It had only happened once before, and it meant more to her than anybody could know.
Lumina raised an eyebrow at Feryal as the smaller girl entered their apartment – ironically the very same one that Alan and Ann had occupied during their stay on Earth.
"Have a nice day?" Lumina asked, her voice still distant.
Feryal looked at her with slightly puzzled brown eyes for a few seconds. When she finally remembered why she'd only just walked in she smiled. It surprised Lumina, for the smile was warmer than it had been since the girl had left her Master's side.
"Yes, I was with the Sol Senshi, the Starlight Senshi, Princess Serenity and Princess Kakyuu." she explained. Then her brown eyes darkened slightly. "We may have a problem with the Terran Prince."
Lumina raised the eyebrow she had only just dropped. "Endymion?" she breathed. "Why would he cause trouble to the Moon Princess?"
The blonde made a strange noise somewhere between a bitter laugh and a hiccough. "Why else would a guy throw his dummy out the crib? Because he wants what he can't have." she sat opposite Lumina on a chair she dragged away from the table and sighed, rubbing the back of her head with one hand. "I had to fend him off with Star-Healer." she let out a small laugh. "Gods that Senshi can be intimidating despite the fact that she's tiny."
Lumina decided not to point out that Star-Healer was probably only an inch or so shorter than Feryal.
Finally, after about five minutes of weary silence, Feryal sighed and stood. "I'm going to make my report to Thuraya and check up on our guest. Besides, I have a message to pass on." Feryal made towards the door which held the two-way mirror and paused, looking back. "Your day was ok?"
Lumina nodded distractedly and made a small dismissive gesture with her fingers. "Don't worry about dinner; I've got it sorted."
Feryal nodded, offered the older woman a small but warm smile and left to do as she had said. Lumina sat there for several minutes longer, listening to the hum of Feryal's voice through the walls before she picked up the telephone and ordered take-out from a sushi place she had found the other day. Then she sat back down in the same place as before, still thinking.
Thuraya had been right; Pluto's judgement was clearly clouded, and it must be Endymion that was the cause of that. Even she had felt the vibrations, only a minor disturbance for the time being, while she had stood before the Time Guardian in her realm.
And Pluto had lied to her.
Lumina had known from the start; her golden eyes never missed it when she was being lied to. As much as she didn't want to believe it, it was the truth. And now she and Feryal would have to clear up the mess, hopefully without getting their Master involved.
She fingered the earring that hung from her right ear thoughtfully; it was a small glowing oval of a much darker purple than her hair, made of a crystal that couldn't be found on Earth or indeed in this System. Feryal wore a similar item attached to a slim chain about her neck, Thuraya her ring.
When the delivery man arrived with the miso soup, tempura soba and sushi she had ordered she paid him and thanked him before closing the door. Feryal came out again just as she was taking the miso through to their guest.
(A.N: Tempura Soba, for those who have no clue what it is, is deep fried shrimp with brown rice noodles in a lovely tangy broth with seaweed and vegetables. It's my favourite Japanese soup-type-thing and I always order it when I go to the Japanese restaurant in town. Miso soup is like a tofu and seaweed soup-type-thing. And there are loads of types of sushi. I recommend going to a proper restaurant rather than buying the mass-produced stuff from the shops; if any of you've ever tasted the difference between them you'll know what I mean.
The Wish Cake is a true tradition, and if anybody's interested tell me and i'll give the general idea in the next chapter, cuz I can't find my book right now that has it in. Gomen ne!)