A/N: Welcome to the longest chapter I have ever written to date! And I really had never thought any chapter of this fic would be this long, but I just couldn't stop writing. The month of December is referred to as Hunt Moon on Jupiter, the Anglo Saxon names will be used after this chapter.
Warning: This chapter contains... foul language? I mean, this chapter is really, REALLY tame. Just lots of plot.
With love,
Korrupted.
Fun fact: Dialogue from here and Courage-less WILL overlap. Which means that parts of the past are repeating to some extent. The people who have read the chapter Love Somebody also got a bit of a teaser for something that will happen, and an example of one such overlap.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON. But what about that second Crystal episode?! That was so amazing! I can't wait to see the next one.
The morning of the fifth day of Hunt Moon, Sakura woke to the sounds of birds singing happily, though she wanted to sob. Today was the day she and her twin turned five; the day that the Princess Sailor Jupiter to the current Moon Queen would come with a small group of Moonlight Guards to take Makoto away. The day she would lose her sister to Crystal Tokyo. The gentle princess felt her eyes burn with tears, sitting up to brush them away hastily.
"I know... It's today. Happy birthday, huh Saku?"
The dead tone caused the heir to Jupiter's head to whip around quickly, seeing Makoto sitting up with a somber expression of her face. Her emerald eyes seemed dull, her tan face a bit pale, the sight of wet streaks running down her face unnerving to the younger sister. Sakura crawled out of her bed and walked over the her stronger twin, climbing in with her just to hold her tightly and cry into her shoulder. She could feel the reddish brown haired girl hug her tightly in return, both twins clinging to each other as if the moment they let go, Makoto would vanish. The remained just like that for almost an hour; silently crying and holding each other, praying that by some miracle Makoto wouldn't be taken by the Moonlight Guard.
"Your Highness! Princess Lacira! You can't go in there, they are still sleeping!" A voice in the halls boomed, both girls snapping their heads up when the oak door to the room was thrown open to reveal a very tall, intimidating woman in a long gossamer green gown.
"It would appear they are awake, Tyrus." She shouted back to the soldier.
Princess Lacira was a very stern looking woman at the moment, her features sharp and strong, her lips in a thin line, her dark olive green eyes set with her chestnut brown eyebrows in a scowl. Her hair was styled into a short bob, her skin oddly pale in contrast to Akira's. The woman strode into the room, her eyes darting between the two young princesses staring at her in fear. "Which one of you is Makoto?" She asked in a soft but stern voice.
However, the green-hazel eyes twin stood up on the bed and spread her arms, planting her feet as she turned into a sort of Jovian shield for her twin. "No! I don't care about your stupid Order. You can't take away my sister!" Sakura yelled defiantly, bits of lightning sparking at her fingertips like a warning. She didn't care if the older woman was far more powerful and experienced than she in combat, the five year old was willing to fight as hard as she could to keep Makoto with her.
Lacira sighed, rolling her eyes as she hoisted the girl off of the bed and deposited her onto her own, ignoring the heir's squeals and protests before striding back to the scared looking future warrior's side and taking firm hold of her tiny bicep. "Princess Makoto; by the Order of the Senshi and the Law of Birthright you are under my custody, and to be transported to Crystal Tokyo. You are hereby no longer a citizen of Jupiter, the planet of Thunder, but a resident of the Moon Kingdom and a guardian to the Moon Princess Serenity. Any acts of resistance will be met with force." The Guardian of the Moon Queen recited, though her eyes were hollow; it was as if she was recalling her own fated fifth birthday only a few centuries before.
"Let go of my daughter! As Queen Jupiter, I order you to release her, damn you!"
Makoto nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of her mother's voice, hearing a terrifying tone that never had been used before echo throughout the wooden room. Lacira stood straight, her imposing height of six foot one only a scant inch and a half taller than the furious queen. Lightning danced along the younger woman's frame, her form trembling in rage, her lips curled into a dark snarl. She looked like a Lightning Wolf ready to strike. "Queen Jupiter, the Order of the Senshi requires the first born female. Do NOT stand in our way. This is the will of the Moon Kingdom." The warrior stated harshly, five men clad in white armor surrounding Akira quickly.
The queen looked between the Moonlight Guard frantically, her long brown hair in a braid down her back, watching helplessly as her elder sister began to half drag her now struggling daughter across the floor. But what could she do to stop this? The Guard would restrain her if she tried to stand between her daughter and the door, and they would attack should she resort to the violence she so desperately longed to use. "I evoke Planet Parlay! I have the right to demand it! I am still entitled to keeping Makoto here until midday, you bitch!" Queen Akira shouted, watching her sister halt in her tracks.
Lacira looked her younger sister in the eyes, releasing the five year old with the cold words of, "Midday it is. Do not try to take her from the planet, Akira. We will find her if you try to run. The Queen of Saturn tried, and her daughter was gravely injured. There is an investigation happening as to why the girl didn't survive."
Makoto was half sobbing as she ran to her mother, Sakura rushing to the queen as well as Lacira waved off the Moonlight Guard, the air of formality vanishing. The woman seemed to crumble a bit, rubbing the bridge of her nose to alleviate a mounting headache. "I don't know how Auntie Tima could stand this. She had you, me, mother, Den, Arly, and Buan to deal with too." The warrior muttered darkly, closing her tired olive green eyes.
Though the queen was still shaking, her snarl had eased substantially, a dead sounding chuckle escaping her. "We did knock out three of the Moonlight Guard. I still remember that. How have you been, Lacira?"
The guardian resorted to a weary half smile. "I've been well. I still miss home. I miss here, but it hurts far less. I do hate this archaic method so very much. Five years old, and rip a child from their families? We don't even allow Jovian children to battle until they are twenty. To be honest Akira, it disgusts me."
Sakura and Makoto were still firmly latched on to Akira's skirt, the queen opting to lift both girls up to prop them on her hips with the ease of practice. "It's still early. We should have breakfast, and then gifts. Before you have to..." The queen of Jupiter swallowed hard, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Before you and Makoto have to leave."
Princess Lacira nodded and motioned for her younger sister to lead the way, her green eyes tracing the oaken halls fondly, as if recalling memories long since past of her time there. At the sight of the formal dining hall, the woman halted and looked in, not seeing her sister halt to watch the guardian slip inside the room that the current royal family rarely used. The high carved ceiling was just as she recalled it, even the scorch marks from when the royal family had quite literally done battle against Tima and the Moonlight Guard to keep Lacira from being torn from their planet. Her eldest brother, Den, had been seriously injured in the fight, Lacira ultimately giving herself over to her aunt to prevent anyone from being killed. "I can see why you would come in here. We didn't use it much after that, and Sakura and Makoto prefer the sun room anyways."
The warrior turned back to see Akira standing in the doorway, smiling sadly at her. "Would you mind it terribly if we ate in here this once, Akira? I would like a happy memory of this room again." The powerful princess admitted somewhat sheepishly. While she had visited the planet only a handful of times after pledging to the Queen, and only three times since the birth of her nieces, Lacira had only been to the meeting room.
The ruler of Jupiter smiled, waving over one of the guards to inform Mishka of the new eating arrangements. Makoto was far more sedated than usual, poking at the various typically favored foods instead of eating them. Though Lacira was far less terrifying now that she wasn't acting on behalf of the Order of the Senshi or the Moon Kingdom, but the princess still resented her for the role she would play. Though she did eat a few bites of her boar, she was largely unable to eat anything. She barely listened as the two adults spoke, moving to a bench to sit by herself until an equally small frame wriggled up to sit next to her, a leather bound gift in her hands. "Makoto, here."
The child warrior understood why her twin had left off the 'happy birthday'; there was nothing happy about this day at all. The girl took the gift, watching as Sakura gripped the oak pendant of the necklace, then unwrapped another beautifully painted board, the twins both depicted back to back, both staring at opposite upper corners of the wood canvas. The painted Sakura gazed at the planet Jupiter, where she would one day rule as Queen Jupiter, a dress made of emerald green silk bringing out the rich brown hues of her chocolate brown hair and green-hazel eyes. Upon her forehead was the gold circlet they both loathed to wear, the emerald drop resting between her eyebrows. The painted Makoto stared off at the crescent moon with a bitter sadness, the planet the she viewed as her future prison to become Princess Sailor Jupiter for the future Moon Queen. The fuku she was clad in was white, her skirt green, the bows pink, the striking colors enhancing the red in her hair and the deep emerald of her eyes, a circlet upon her own forehead. However, both girls were clasping each other's hands, their fingers intertwined as if to show that no matter how far apart they may be, they were still connected. Tears shone in both of their eyes as they looked at the two planets, hurt and regret in their expressions. Makoto could feel tears running from her own green hues as she yanked her sister into a tight embrace, sobbing loudly. It wasn't fair. She adored her twin so much, but now she had to leave her. "I love you S-saku..." She whispered.
Sakura had to bite back her own sobs, pulling away to wipe at her eyes hastily. "Love you too Mako. We're twins, we'll always have each other. No matter what." The heir swore softly.
Makoto took several minutes to stop crying, but when she did, it was time to offer her own gift to Sakura. She reached out her right hand and pressed a finger to the necklace, touching a green crystal lightly before sending some of her own lightning into it, filling it to the brim before continuing to do the same with all of the crystals. The green stones glowed with power, emerald hues meeting green-hazel sternly. "This is some of my power. Only use this as a last resort. I will always do all I can to keep you safe." She assured the crown princess, both once again holding each other.
It seemed like only minutes later that Lacira stood, a mournful expression on her face. "It's midday. I'm sorry, but I must take Makoto back with me now." Her olive green hues fell upon her charge, wishing that she didn't have to do this.
"Must you really take her? Surely there must be another way." Akira pleaded, her voice uncharacteristically small. She was hoping for some kind of miracle that would allow her child to remain here, not be forced to go to a far away planet.
Lacira's expression was one of sadness and regret. "Akira, I would love nothing more than to leave Makoto here on Jupiter with you. I would love to allow her to stay here and know nothing of the guardians, and the battles, and the pitfalls of the Court. But I can't do that. I am bound by my vows to the Moon Queen to uphold the laws of the Order. I have no choice in this matter." A soft sigh escaped her. "I have just as much say as you do. This life isn't fair, but I must do this. Just as one day Makoto will be forced to do the same to Sakura's first born daughter."
One of the Jovian guards walked in holding a large trunk, the auburn haired twin gently placing her painting inside of it with the other two; she had packed last night so she would be less tempted to run and hide. Five smartly armed men in white armor entered to the dining hall, the queen losing all composure at long last. She gripped her elder sister by her dress front, her hazel eyes almost wild in desperation. "Swear to me you'll watch over my daughter! Swear it, dammit! By the storms, I need her safe!" The Jovian woman demanded, her voice laced with panic.
Lacira pulled the frantic woman into an embrace, whispering to her softly, "Of course I will. She's your daughter, but she's my niece. I swear on the lightning that I will protect her as best as I can until my dying day, Akira."
Sakura watched the two women hugging before the taller female stepped back, her air of authority returning once more. "Come, Makoto. We must go to the Moon Kingdom and you must take your pledges to the princess." Lacira commanded, the weary looking twin taking hold of her hand and being led away from her.
The crown princess felt her lower lip tremble, tears welling in her eyes as her right hand gripped the pendant tightly. Her sister, her twin was being taken away from her and her mother to be taught war, politics, and to be bound to the Moon Princess. All she could do was stand there and watch. Unless... Sakura grit her teeth, breaking away from her mother to follow after her sister as the Moonlight Guard turned to face her, drawing blades with crescent moons carved into the hilts to stop her. "I evoke Gemini Passage!" The young princess cried out, her voice full of desperation, Lacira turning back to face her with a hint of amusement on her lips.
"Very well. Come." Was the simple instruction.
Sakura rushed forwards when the Guard had re-sheathed their weapons, taking her aunt's other hand as she glanced at her twin. The rite she called out was an ancient one that rarely had ever seen use as only a few of the senshi had ever been a twin. But, it would allow her to go with Makoto and stand with Lacira when to witness an event that only the Order of the Senshi and the Court of the Crescent was privileged to attend. It would grant her extra time with her sister. The heir had always wondered how people traveled from planet to planet, but as they strode into the large sunny terrace in the courtyard, her green-hazel eyes widened in awe at the sleek craft made of metal, the incredible technology that it showcased. It had to have been made by both Mercucians and Venusians due to the craftsmanship and the technology involved. A door on the side was pushed open laboriously, stairs being lowered down as the current warrior of courage ushered the children in first, following herself, and then the Moonlight Guard as well as the trunk of Makoto's things. "We will arrive at the moon in a few hours. Feel free to rest if you need." The warrior woman informed the twins kindly.
Sakura moved to snuggle up against her twin, clinging to her as the engines roared to life through the thick exterior hull, feeling the ship sway a bit as it rose from their planet. The heir could hear Makoto's heart hammering in her chest loudly, inwardly furious that the Moon Kingdom had the power to rip her sibling away from her and their mother. She knew that it was considered an honor to be one of the elite Senshi, but the reality was painful and full of resentment. Makoto held her tightly, and she wasn't sure when, but she nodded off during the flight, her own soft snores lulling the future warrior to sleep as well.
Lacira stood when they had begun their descent onto the moon, walking over to rouse her resting nieces a bit reluctantly. She cursed this entire barbaric practice for selecting the senshi; ripping children from their homes to make pledges and swear vows that they weren't even old enough to understand to a girl just a few years older than them. The new Princess Sailor Pluto was the eldest that she had ever heard of, pledging at twelve, the Princess Sailor Uranus and Princess Sailor Neptune both pledging at the age of eight. They had all arrived together, each one kneeling in turn to swear their loyalty to the five year old princess of the moon. "Makoto, Sakura. We'll be landing shortly." She informed the yawning girls, noting that they both seemed fairly unhappy at the fact that it hadn't been a bad dream.
With a bit of a heavy thud, the craft plopped onto the concrete pad that had been created for just the ship, Lacira taking their hands again when the door opened and stairs were lowered, leading them out to a dazzling sight. Beautiful crystal structures were all around them, the soft light of the planet making them cast an ethereal glow onto everything. Makoto could see a few gardens from the vantage point of them being on some sort of platform, turning her head to spy several more in various locations around the palace. Past a high crystal wall with many guard towers lay buildings made of alabaster and spectacularly colored glass, the entire area seemingly like a glittering jewel. Crystal Tokyo was the crown jewel of the beautiful Moon Kingdom, and it was truly an awe-inspiring sight for the five year olds. "We must hurry to get you changed, Makoto. Sakura will be accompanying me for the ceremony, but I will need to find something more suitable for the Court." The elder Jovian princess informed them as she ushered them closer to a door in the magnificent crystal tower they had landed upon.
Sakura blinked, dazed from the splendor she was trying to take in before looking at her aunt in confusion. "But... This is my best dress." She pouted, clueless as to what could be nicer than her best silk gown that had her planetary symbol embroidered into the left breast of the deep green fabric.
Lacira laughed. "Oh, it's lovely, but at Court, it's a whole new level of gaudy. It took me three decades to even get used to it. You will be provided a dress, I assure you. Come." They entered the palace through the door, noticing that everything still had a glow about it, though it wasn't as bright.
They walked through crystal halls, finding their way to a woman with short, pale blonde hair in a dress all made of a material that seemed to float on it's own as she moved, her blue eyes gentle as they rested on the twins. "This is Selene. She is the seamstress here. Selene, this is Princess Sailor Jupiter Makoto, and Crown Princess Sakura. Sakura evoked Gemini Passage, so we require a dress for her that is permissible to be seen at Court in. Would that be possible for you to create with the amount of time you have?" It was a rather stupid question for Lacira to ask; she knew Selene could make ten dresses for adults in less than the two hours they had before the ceremony, but she just liked to be polite.
The woman laughed, the sound like a bell, walking over to Lacira and casting her a wink. "It would be no trouble at all, Cira. In fact, it's quite the honor to make a dress for one not a senshi for the ceremony. It's quite rare for the royal firstborns to be twins, but two girls is almost unheard of." The woman knelt down to get to eye level with the girls. "Have the two of you been measured recently?"
"Last month, but we've both grown." Makoto supplied, earning a nod from the nice woman that seemed to be good friends with her aunt.
"Well, then let's get started, shall we? I promise that this won't take too long." Selene assured, leading them onto a sort of pedestal and retrieving a long measuring tape.
She measured the elder twin at lightning speeds, moving to Sakura and repeating the process before tapping her chin in thought. Makoto would obviously wear the proper dress for one taking the pledge, but for her sister who was the heir she had several options to pull from. Her blue eyes took note of the leather and crystal necklace that the child wore, the oak pendant in the center showed the great affection that the sisters had for each other. Turning around, Selene started hunting through bolts of her fabrics, finding gossamer in light sea green and the finest silk in emerald green. She took a final glance to take note of the leather clothing that Makoto wore before locating lunar doe hide as well. Expertly, she cut the fabric, the twins both watching with awe at her speed, their aunt holding back laughter at the sight of their open mouths. They didn't know at what point the seamstress had picked up her needle and thread, but they both could have sworn it had only been ten minutes before Selene had turned back around with two dresses in her hands. "Cira? Would you mind helping me put these on them?" She asked.
'You're usually asking me to help you disrobe...' The guardian mused with a coy smile on her lips. "Of course, Selene." She agreed, taking charge of Sakura's dress and helping her niece change.
Finally the twins stood in their luxurious gowns, grinning at the splendor. Sakura's was a sleeveless emerald silk gown with leather along the sides, the back laced with a strip of the material, her planetary symbol stitched into the left breast with shimmering pink thread, oak leaves embroidered along the hem of the skirt. Makoto's was of silk for an under dress, once again sleeveless, then the gossamer fabric of sea green flowing over that, her planetary symbol sewn into the left breast with gold thread. However, Selene had decided to embroider a small sakura flower in the crook of the Jovian symbol, the future guardian touching it gently. "It's rare for this to happen, so I decided to make it a bit special." The woman informed her.
Makoto hugged the seamstress about her waist, Sakura joining her only a second later. Selene embraced them in return, finally herding them back to their aunt. "I'll be making more dresses for Makoto. They will be in her room after the ceremony." She gave Lacira a chaste kiss on her cheek, the elder Jovian grinning at the action. "I'll see you later, Cira. Try not to maim the Duke again, alright? Blood really is difficult to get out of fabric."
The woman folded her arms under her breasts, her expression somewhere between a pout and a scowl. "Well, then he better remember that it is not proper conduct to grab at any of the Order. Next time he may gain a stump." Selene rolling her eyes and holding up her hands in defeat.
"Fine, Lacira. But next time, just try to keep the stains to a minimum. For me?" The white-blonde woman begged, earning a grumbled agreement. Were all Jovians this stubborn? "Thank you. Now off you three go. You should see if they might be ready now. When Princess Sailor Venus pledged, they had been ready a few hours early."
The guardian nodded, taking hold of her charges hands once more as the moved through the crystal corridor. She missed how warm the wooden halls of the palace she had been born in were, the translucent stone beautiful, but cold. It lacked that friendly feel and rich color that oak had provided. The centuries had only improved her opinion of it slightly, but a part of her would always long for the freedom of her home planet, of the rolling thunder from the familiar storms she had loved to play in with her siblings. As the trio neared the gathering hall, a man dressed in white armor spotted her, the Moonlight Guardsman bowing to her in respect. "Princess Sailor Jupiter Lacira. They are nearly ready for you." He blinked his grey-blue eyes at the girl holding onto her left hand, noting that the one with emerald green eyes wore the dress of the next Princess Sailor Jupiter. "Ma'am, forgive me, but I must be confused..." He took note of the similar features, his eyes wide. "Twins?! D-did she-"
Lacira sighed irritably. "Yes. Crown Princess Sakura evoked Gemini Passage. She will be joining me on the dais beside the queen. Please, take Princess Sailor Jupiter Makoto to the waiting room." She instructed the male, the Moonlight Guardsman bowing and taking hold of her hand to lead her away.
Makoto took another glance back at her aunt and sister, seeing Sakura watch her as she gripped the oak pendant, fighting back the urge to yank herself away and run back to her twin so they could run away together. But the Order would hunt her down and drag her back, and she couldn't risk Sakura being hurt on her account. Her attention returned to the hall before her, the Guardsman leading her to a small but comfortable room lined with plush chairs and chases, a fire place along the stone wall, casting a warm glow on the oak floor, a fountain off to the side. Makoto looked to the ceiling and noted the surface had been somehow bewitched to have clouds rolling along the expanse, the clock on the wall decorated with fish and other aquatic life. The most foreboding part of the decor was the glavie and scythe that hung against one of the walls, above those were the words, 'The end is simply a new beginning.' written in gold paint. "Someone will be along when the ceremony has begun. Moonlight guide you." He told her and left the princess alone, shutting the door.
The girl sat on the oak floor, stroking the familiar surface tenderly. It was a comfort to her, recognizing that there was something in the room meant to be familiar to each planet's princess. A fire for Mars, a fountain for Mercury, luxury for Venus, aquatic life for Neptune, the visual representation of time for Pluto, the open sky for Uranus, and the full circle of life for Saturn. She sighed and leaned against one of the chairs, looking up at the ceiling with great longing, wishing she was back at the palace she would never belong to again. Back with her mother. She lost track of how long she had been sitting there, ignoring the clock as home-sickness washed over her. "Princess Sailor Jupiter?" A male voice questioned from the other side of the room, prompting her to turn emerald hues to look for the source.
The speaker was a young man with long black hair that was neatly braided, his eyes a gentle sea green. He wore the white robes of a Moonlight Knight, the elite of the Moonlight Guard. "They are ready for you now. Please, come with me." He requested, holding his arm out for her.
Slowly, Makoto rose, brushing off her gown and walking over to the male. He stooped a bit and offered her a playful bow, provoking a giggle. "I am Lysander, and I shall be your escort on this rather dull day." He spoke in a gentle voice full of mischief and kindness, gently taking her hand in his once he realized that she was too short to take his arm, leading her through the door he had come through. "Are you nervous, Princess?" The child nodded mutely, sheepishly looking at the crystal floor. "Well, always try to imagine that you are somewhere that you like. The only people that matter are the ones on the dais. Just kneel, and speak loudly and clearly. None of the Court is your concern, so just try to focus on the Moon Princess. She's the one you are pledging to, after all."
Makoto had to admit that Lysander was helping her not to panic, feeling a bit more at ease as they made their way through the hall. Finally, they arrived at a set of large, ornate crystal doors, her escort giving her a grin and a thumbs-up. "Moonlight guide you, Princess Sailor Jupiter. I will be behind you, and also will be there for the Vow. I believe, 'Lightning guide you' would be one you are more familiar with." He told her, the doors opening to admit them.
As Makoto stepped through, the light of the dais caught and held her attention, seeing two clusters of people on it, other people in ornate chairs lining the walls, all eyes upon her. The five year old set her jaw and dredged up all of her courage as she walked forwards, her gown trailing along behind her. Makoto heeded Lysander's advice, looking ahead and imagining herself and the people on the dais to be in the courtyard on Jupiter, seeing Sakura standing beside her aunt, the queen a lovely woman with pure white hair styled in pigtails, knots at the sides of her head, serene blue eyes watching her. Lacira was in her own emerald and gossamer dress, surrounded by seven other woman roughly her age. Each of them had a gown of a certain color aside from the Moon Queen; hers was pure white, flowing, and emblazoned with crescent moons.
Her emerald eyes moved to the smaller group next to the adults, the girl seated upon the throne a few years older than herself, her white dress also bearing the symbol of the Moon Kingdom, though her hair was a clean yellow-blonde styled identical to her mother's. To her left side was a girl who looked almost her age, her long blonde hair simply free flowing, a red bow a contrast to the orange colors of her gown, her blue eyes a bit somber. Off to the right of her stood two girls who looked the age of the Moon Princess; one with shoulder length aqua colored locks and royal blue eyes full of gentle kindness, her dress only a shade darker than her hair, the other a taller girl with her sandy blonde hair styled short and boyish, her midnight blues full of a rogue playfulness, though her gown was the same color as her eyes. Standing behind them was a girl clearly already in her teens, her tan skin a contrast to the fair tones of the others around her, Makoto even several shades lighter than her. Her green locks long and hanging free aside from the bun the was barely glimpsed by the approaching princess, her pink hues easy, yet full of a certain knowing, her black gown almost stoic on her.
Makoto halted a few yards short of the dais, though was before the group her age, gracefully dropping to one knee as she had practiced for the last year, her green hues cast respectfully to the crystal floor, speaking in a clear voice that she hoped was loud enough, trying to keep the nerves from making her words shake.
"I kneel before you as Jupiter; planet of thunder, protection, lightning, and courage. I swear on this day before the Court of the Crescent to aid, serve, and protect you until my final breath leaves me. I will faithfully serve the Moon Kingdom and heed the call of battle against any foe of the Moon Princess Serenity. I, Princess Makoto, pledge this as your loyal senshi of Jupiter."
She didn't rise, hearing the princess of the moon reply in a voice full of regal grace, but just a hint of childishness still present. "I gratefully accept your pledge of service." But Makoto still had one thing left to swear aloud before the ceremony was completed, remaining in her position as she took another deep breath. She no longer was a princess of Jupiter, but the Princess Sailor Jupiter of the new princess, so she only had to change one word as she had been told as a child, the main difference between practicing the Vow and actually taking it.
"I, Makoto, Princess Sailor Jupiter, do swear to remain faithful only to the Moon Princess. I vow to uphold my purity and remain celibate in honor of the pureness of the Moon Kingdom. I take this solemn vow of chastity and celibacy on this day, in front of the Court of the Crescent, and will put no other above the Moon Princess Serenity."
She stood at the sound of footsteps approaching, turning to face Lysander as he walked nearer, a red crushed velvet pillow in his hands. He knelt to her level, a pair of gold bands resting atop the item, their surface holding the symbol of the crescent moon on them. "Princess Sailor Jupiter Makoto. Do you accept these as a symbol of your vow for all to see?" He asked in a voice full of strength and authority.
"I accept them." Was her reply.
Lysander lifted one of the cuffs, removing the small pin-like locking mechanism from the top so it opened on it's hinge, speaking in a very hushed tone so only Makoto could hear him, "I tried to keep them warm, but they may be a bit cold. I'm sorry if they are." The warmth back in his voice.
He took gentle hold of her left hand, placing the slightly cool metal cuff on the bicep before carefully closing it, taking care not to pinch her before replacing the pin. He repeated the process with her right arm, finally standing and walking away again, Makoto turning to face the dais and her princess once more. "I welcome you into the Order of the Senshi, Princess Sailor Jupiter Makoto. Come, and join your fellow Senshi." The young blonde stated, beckoning the brunette to join them others standing around her.
The child gracefully walked onto the dais, taking her place next to the girl in orange and facing the Court of the Crescent, hearing them softly applaud in their approval, the alien weight of the cuffs on her arms making everything feel surreal. The queen stood, addressing the people before them. "It is my great pleasure to end the ceremony. Please, proceed to the great hall for the feast." She spoke in a beautiful voice, regal yet soft and warm.
It was the nicest dismissal Makoto and Sakura had ever heard, the younger twin rushing forward to hug her sister, nearly toppling the both of them. "Oh, Mako, you look so pretty!" She squealed, the new warrior laughing.
"Oh, hush. Not as pretty as you." Her face fell, realizing that in only a few minutes Sakura would be lead away from her and would travel back to Jupiter without her, holding her tighter. "Sakura, I'm going to miss you. Please, visit me?" Makoto couldn't help the few tears that traced down her cheeks.
"As much as I possibly can, Mako. I promise."
Lacira walked over and rested her hand on Sakura's shoulder, whispering that she had to take her back to her mother now. "Lysander, watch over her while I am away." The commanding Jovian ordered, the man snapping to attention and bowing in his compliance.
Makoto watched as her sister was lead away, feeling as if with each step they took, she was being shut inside of a crystalline cage. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder as her lower lip trembled, turning to see the girl with sandy blonde hair standing with the other three senshi, a gentle smile on her face. "Hey. It's gonna be okay. I'm Princess Sailor Uranus, but just call me Haruka." Haruka tilted her head to the gentle looking girl with blue hair next to her that seemed to truly fit in the gown she wore. "This is Princess Sailor Neptune Michiru." Then to the eldest one of the bunch. "And that's Princess Sailor Pluto Setsuna."
"I'm Princess Sailor Venus Minako." The blonde in the orange gown spoke in a warm voice filled with light as she approached, the Moon Princess standing and walking towards her newest guardian. "And this is Moon Princess Serenity."
Makoto bowed, but the girl she had just sworn to protect quickly pulled her back up to her feet, a sheepish expression on her face. "Please, don't do that. I really hate it. We're all princesses after all. Please, call us by our names. I really do hate to use titles among us. After all, why can't we all be friends?" The young girl was beaming by the end of her words, her grin wide with hope, the emotion contagious as the others all began smiling.
Makoto couldn't help but smile as well, wiping away the tears on her cheeks. "I... I guess you guys know my name. It's nice to meet you all." Her emerald eyes scanned the others over again, realizing that she was the youngest so far among them. So, what am I supposed to do now? I mean, I'm just a bit out of place, I guess."
Michiru and Minako both walked up and tilted their heads to the door she had entered from. "Well, there is the feast, or we can show you around. It's really up to you." The blonde Venusian offered with a pleasant smile.
"Well, whatever we are gonna do, I am getting out of this stupid dress first. So, why don't we show her to where the rooms are. Ugh, I hate wearing this damn thing!" Haruka seethed, lifting her skirts as if they were a vile substance.
Michiru giggled and took the youngest girl by the hand, gently leading her through the door and walking through before turning the opposite way that the Jovian princess had come from the waiting room. Down the group moved through the crystal halls, Makoto barely listening to their conversations as she thought about what her life would be like from now on. She would have cold crystal instead of warm wood surrounding her, golden cuffs that bound her to the princess instead of freedom, a gilded cage in place of storms and forests. The five year old did hope that these girls were as nice as they seemed, already noting that Serenity didn't seem nearly as stiff and formal as she had imagined. That thought was solidified when the regal seven year old suddenly tripped over her own flowing skirts, squeaking in shock before flopping rather gracelessly onto her face, her pigtails fluttering behind her like banners of defeat. The others laughed loudly, Makoto the one to rush forward to help up the clumsy girl, discovering that even she was laughing at her own blunder. "Sorry. I really need to ask for shorter skirts." The Moon Princess admitted cheerfully.
Makoto found herself giggling too, the girl she was sworn to protect linking their arms together and pulling her along as she laughed, the reddish brown haired girl suddenly reminded of her little sister. She had to bite her cheek at the thought of Sakura, who was on her way back to Jupiter at that very moment. This was her home now, these girls were her comrades and her princess. She would be able to see her family once in a while, and her aunt would train her. Still, she was homesick already. The child found herself halted rather suddenly in front of several doors in a hallway, each with a planetary symbol on it, though each one several yards apart with the exception of the door with the crescent and with the Jupiter mark on it. Another reminder that she would be bound to the princess without the chance of true privacy, unlike all the others. "This your room, Makoto." Serenity spoke in a gentle voice, adding on, "I promise to knock before coming in through the door that joins our rooms. I don't like the idea of you being barged in on."
Once more, the girl looked at the princess in wonder, astounded that the princess was a girl of such kindness. Makoto opened her door to see a room with wooden floors, potted plants, and a large bed with green sheets made of the finest of materials. Her trunk was already at the foot of the bed, a clothing chest left with one door open to show clothing that Selene had made for her already inside of it. She turned to the door and noticed that the princess was still outside in the hall, shyly beckoning her inside. The seven year old all but squealed in joy at the invitation, hurrying in and looking around in wonder. "Jupiter must be really pretty!" She stated, spying the look of content on the newest member of her guardians.
"It is, but it's almost always raining, so we have lots of clothing made of leather or cottons. Makes cleaning the mud off a lot easier. Sakura and I usually ruined our clothing during the heavy rain season, when the rivers and waterfalls change their course or even location." The green eyed girl informed her. "But I always loved the storms."
Serenity gave her a sad smile, walking a bit closer to the girl. "I know it's not much, but I really hope you come to like it here. It's not Jupiter, but it's pretty. Well, the food is really good at least!" A bit of a childish grin of glee crossed the blonde's lips, thinking of the sweet ice cream confection that she could never seem to get enough of.
Makoto opened her trunk just as the other girl went to a door on the left wall, opening it and stepping into the room. "This is my room. If you ever need anything, just ask, okay?"
"Alright. Thanks, Princess." She replied respectfully, gaining a pout in return.
"Call me Serenity, please. I really do hate those stupid titles. I think you should change if you want to. I'm just going to change my dress. I'll be out in the hall in a bit." She stated before shutting the door, leaving the Jovian girl in her new room by herself.
The new guardian lifted the paintings she had gotten from her twin, fusing the wood boards to the walls to keep them from coming down. Next, she dug through her trunk for the few bits of clothing she had brought, selecting deep brown leather pants and a shirt with the symbol of Jupiter on the back in pink stitching; green was her second favorite color, but she always loved pink best. After slipping out of the gown and hanging it up delicately, Makoto slipped into the more comfortable clothing, the gold cuffs on her biceps making it a bit tight. She might have to ask the seamstress if she could make some leather clothes that fit better around the items, settling instead for a sleeveless shirt to avoid having to rip one of her other ones. Just as she was stepping into her leather boots, there was a knock on the door, the five year old stumbling over in her haste, and opening the door to see Haruka before her. The eldest blonde was in deep blue pants, boots, and a tunic of both light and dark blue, the color bringing out the tones in her eyes. The princess of Neptune seemed to have opted not to change, still in her flowing gown that looked flawless on her. "Hey there. So, Michi and I are heading down with Sets. Are you and Serenity coming?"
"Of course we are~! Minako too, right?" The girl shouted as she rushed out of her room, the gown almost identical to the one she had been wearing before, only the skirt ending a few inches above her ankles, revealing bare feet.
"I wouldn't miss it! Is Makoto coming too?" The Venusian guardian called as she rushed over, her own clothing the same as before, the girl with the long green hair walking behind her wearing a very lovely dress of blacks and violets. "Ohhh, you looks so cool! I never knew leather could look like that!"
Makoto smiled at the girls around her, scuffing her boot a bit shyly on the crystal floor. "Yeah, I'll come. I'm a bit hungry." She confessed, gasping as almost every single one of them tried to grab hold and yank her along to the great hall, all laughing and talking at once, Makoto feeling at ease for the first time since her arrival.
Maybe life in Crystal Tokyo wouldn't be to terrible after all.
A/N: For those of you keeping age score:
Makoto- 5
Minako- 6
Serenity- 7
Haruka and Michiru- 10
Setsuna- 14