"Tales of the Stars"
Book 1: Homecoming
Chapter 24
"Why are we at the beach?" Staria asked, irritated at the whole situation. "It's too cold to swim."
"The cold is why we are here." Lusion pointed out. "You've only just touched the surface of your abilities."
"You still haven't really told me what they are. Quit being so damn vague and just tell me flat out."
The older man sighed, "You're so quick to reject your destiny why should I be direct about it?"
"Because maybe then I can let it sink in some as opposed to it just making more questions for me!"
Sunday had arrived too quickly and Staria found herself on an empty ocean beach with the two people she least wanted to be around. It was training day as promised and it had taken far too much effort to get the boys to allow her to go alone. The whole thing was giving her a head ache. She just wanted to go home and curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a pile of manga.
"Very well, come sit with me and I'll explain the basics." Lusion headed over to a large rock near the water and found a seat on it.
"Go listen to your story or you're going to be here all day." Seiki urged staring off into the waters himself. "He's promised to behave today, he won't break that unless you drive him to." He still didn't like the girl, but he could understand her worries. His cousin was indeed still living in the past and it was troublesome for all parties involved.
Staria was starting to feel like Seiki was looking out for her even if it was just a little bit. Lusion had promised to be good, but she still didn't trust what his version of good was. She begrudgingly joined the man sitting on the cold stone.
"So why is the cold so important?" She finally asked.
"Our world's powers are drawn from the night sky. I'm sure by now you've seen or at least been told that the senshi each draw powers from various elements. Yours, much like Sailor Mercury, are drawn from ice. Embracing the cold is one way to awaken your powers. You are Estarilana's pillar, Sailor Staria."
"Wait….my title is the same as my name? How exactly do I keep that a secret?" Staria was flustered.
"It's not my fault your mother named you as she did. She probably had some minor psychic abilities and sensed your destiny. She just didn't know what the name was really for when it came to her. Never the less you are Sailor Staria, senshi of the icy night sky. Aside from ice magic, you have the ability to heal yourself and others.
Your powers of healing have greater potential to be honest, but you need to be able to attack your opponents as well. Over time you may also develop some telepathy and telekinetic abilities. I was told when my mother was Sailor Staria she could wield the full powers, and we thanked the heavens that Lyra could not. She would have been even more of a nightmare of she could dig into our minds and move object without touching them."
"What all did Tranquility learn?" Staria asked the question carefully.
"You were in a rush to save your home world." Staria tied to ignore the fact that he was still talking about her as Tranquility. "Mother and I helped you get basic control of your main ice attack, and she taught to you conjure an ice blade after learning you'd had a little training with a sword. The healing would have been of better use to you though. There wasn't time for that in your haste. I will not allow you to rush your training this time." He turned to her and gave her a serious look. "I will not have you die in battle again. Not like before. This time you will be properly trained."
Lusion stood up and took a deep breath of sea air. "Shall we begin?"
Mamoru needed a break from trying to figure out how to find the rainbow crystals. The information from Lusion was helpful and yet still just leading him in circles. So he decided to go hang out with Motoki for a while. The blond had been bugging him about not hanging around the past few times. The young man in question was working his magic with a cute customer when Mamoru entered the arcade. So he found himself a perch and waited for his friend. Or rather he would have if a certain girl with pig tails hadn't walked in shortly after him. He wasn't quite sure why but he just couldn't resist picking on her whenever they met. It didn't help that she seemed to be freaking out that Motoki hadn't said hello to her yet.
He quietly walked up behind her and called out, "Motoki, I think Odango Attama here is feeling neglected." The young girl froze, turned quickly to Mamoru and panicked more as she returned to explain to the cute clerk.
"No! No! I'm cool, really. I just wanted to ask your advice on something if you had the time. That's all." She said in a rush.
"What's up Usagi-chan?" Motoki said with a smile as he greeted her.
"Do you have time to sit and talk?" she asked finally.
Some how Mamoru ended up joining them next door, and hearing out Usagi's issues. Her friend had a crush on a guy who seemed to be trouble.
"If he's such a bad guy you need to tell her, other wise you're going to feel even worse if something bad happens to her." He blurted out after her rant and Motoki's wishy washy response.
"True…" Motoki finally agreed with him. "She might be mad at you at first but if it's for her own good…."
Usagi was quiet for a while then her face lit up. "Wow! You guys are great! I feel so much better now! Thank you! I think my appetite's even coming back." She proceeded to call over a waiter and order half the menu.
"How much money do you have on you?" Mamoru half teased as the girl was preoccupied.
"Not that much…." Motoki smiled nervously.
"I'll take care of it then."
The blond looked at his usually frugal friend. "You sure?"
"Yeah I came into a little extra cash recently. I don't think one lunch for Odango will break me" Mamoru smiled.
"Be careful my friend. If you start to be too nice I'll start to think you like her." Motoki teased right back.
Mamoru snorted, "Yeah right."
The water was freezing, and the white drapes she was dressed in did nothing to protect her. Tranquility was thankful for the dim lights though, it helped mask how transparent the fabric was becoming in the pool's water. Lyra stood barely a few feet away from her in the water as well. It was only a matter of moments before the power transfer would begin. Despite being in frail condition the older woman didn't seem phased by the cold at all. Tranquility did her best to suppress her shivering, but from the other woman's smile she knew she'd failed.
"Give me your hands Tranquility, of the Golden Earth Kingdom." Lyra ordered stepping closer to her. She held her hands out as asked, and was proud of herself for not flinching when they were gripped by boney cold hands. She closed her eyes as the dying princess began to chant the incantation that would start the transfer.
Lusion watched from the side lines, with the rest of the court, as a faint purple aura formed around the two women. The darker side being on Lyra and slowly moving towards Tranquility. He kept his eyes on his sister, just waiting for her to pull something.
Tranquility felt the energy entering her and it warmed her ever so slightly. She started to relax, but was jolted from it when Lrya's hands let go of her's and wrapped tightly around her throat. The younger woman's eyes went wide as Lrya forced her down farther into the water, choking her all the while.
"Why should I hand everything over to you?" She whispered. "I know he told you not to allow me in. Yet you don't love him, and never will love him the way I do. Why should you be allowed to have everything while I die? I'll just take you with me!" She began laughing, pushing the girl farther under the water, trying to drown her as she slowly crushed her throat.
Lusion wanted nothing more than to dash in and interrupt, but forced himself to stay put. If she could hold on just a little longer, just until the transfer was done. Then he could save her without ruining all their efforts. He watched in torture as his love's struggle continued. She would live. She had to.
Tranquility tried to struggle free, but the dying woman's grip was not letting up. She was terrified of the surprising strength. Her mind filled with thoughts of Sapphrite and her heart cried out. What was the point to leaving him if she was just going to die there. If this was the fate of her choice she should have just stayed with him on the moon. Regret washed over her as her world grew fuzzy.
The light faded, and both women went limp, falling still in the pool. Lusion was the first to dash in. Prying his dying sister off his love.
"She won't love you like I do." she choked out, as Lusion dropped his curse back into the water.
"That's the idea sister." He replied coldly, fishing his princess from the icy waters. Tranquility's coughing brought his full attention back to her. Her lips were blue and all the color had drained from her face, but she was still alive. She was shivering non stop, and needed to be warmed up badly. He carried her out of the pool and left his sister for the priestesses to deal with. She could die soaked and alone for all he cared.
"Get a hot bath ready immediately!" he ordered, he wasn't about to let his future wife die. Not after she was finally his.
Staria found herself sitting in the cold ocean water glaring at Lusion. The whole thing was stupid. She didn't feel any different. She was just now wet, cold and felt like an ass.
"Couldn't we just have rented a swimming pool for this?" She asked.
"Would it have been as cold?" Lusion mused.
"Have you been in some lap pools? Most gyms keep them icy. There'd at least be a hot tub or sauna to warm up in after we're done."
"You did blow your chance to see her in a swim suite on this one." Seiki couldn't help but tease. Lusion thought about it, but it was too late now. He'd keep it in mind for later if needed.
"You're not focusing Staria. Close your eyes and don't fight the cold. Embrace it, you'll start to feel an energy within you." Lusion got back to the point. Today was about training not self indulgence. There was no point in giving her the transformation pen if she didn't already recognize the power sleeping within her.
"If I get sick again from all of this…." Staria muttered but did as told.
"You won't get sick. Just trust me for once."
Staria took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the gentle waves rock against her. She tried to ignore everything around her other than the water itself. It was numbingly cold, but she was getting use to it. If that was good or bad she hadn't decided yet. She did start to feel a little different, like something was beginning to warm her from the inside. The cold seemed to vanish completely even though she knew it was still there. She opened her eyes and saw a smile on Lusion's face. Was he seeing something she couldn't?
"Can you feel the difference?" He finally asked.
"It's like a warm energy wanting to break free…"
"Yes, it doesn't wish to be contained but you will be able to control it with time. For now though we shall let it out." He held his hand out to her, an offer to help her up from the sea. Staria took his hand without thinking, her water logged jeans wanting to drag her back down. Lusion left her still standing in the surf and pulled an object form one of his pockets.
"This is your focus item. It will allow you to call your powers out. A transformation if you will." He handed her the purple and gold pen. It looked like a normal writing utensil with a gold star on the cap and little violet and pale blue stones set into it.
"It's just a pen." She stated, a bit confused.
"Convenience is a necessity. Would you rather have a bulky talisman to drag around?"
"I guess you have a point." She twirled the pen in her fingers. It did seem normal to be holding it. "So how does it work?"
"You need but hold it up and say 'Staria Power, Make Up.' It and your powers will do the rest."
Staria glanced around just to be sure no one else was near the beach. She forced down the feelings of looking stupid and raised the pen into the air. Closing her eyes she called out, "Staria Power, Make Up!"