SOUL MATES
Chapter 3: "Midnight Meeting"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
As Palla-Palla lay on her bed, sobbing forlornly, she recalled unbidden what had occurred that had put her in this dilemma in the first place.
A thought had struck her in the middle of the night, causing her to wake from a sound sleep. This wasn't unusual for Palla-Palla. Though her brain was in sleep mode, it was still receptive to outside thoughts if they were strong enough. When Ves had first come to the orphanage, Palla-Palla had been roused in the night by a nightmare the new girl had, reliving in lurid detail coated with subconscious guilt the sight of Ves seeing her father bent over the lifeless corpse of her mother. It was one of the things that made Palla-Palla sympathetic to the gruff new orphan.
This thought, though, wasn't angry or violent. The teen sat in her bed, staring out into the darkness of the room, trying to comprehend what she was feeling. This thought was different, both in tone and origin. It was a gentle thought, an inquisitive one. And there was an ancient quality to it, like someone who had lived a very long time and seen a great many things. There was also a hint of suspicion in the thought. The one who first thought the thought felt no fear or anger. Palla-Palla sat on the side of her bed and puzzled over what the quality of the thought was that she couldn't identify.
For someone of her limited vocabulary and limited understanding of some concepts was unable to understand what resignation was.
One thing Palla-Palla did know was the strange thought had caused her to reach out with her telepathic mind to try to find the one who attracted her attention. And in reaching out, she encountered other thoughts from the same source. And she encountered emotions that she didn't expect to encounter. Intrigued by the thoughts and emotions she felt, Palla-Palla got up out of bed and got dressed. Easing out of her room, she glanced at the room that Jun and Ves would be sharing.
Neither one was there. Palla-Palla sighed with relief. Ves had warned her repeatedly not to venture out alone in strange places. Palla-Palla felt bad for disobeying Ves, because she knew Ves was only protecting her. And because Ves might start yelling and that always upset her. But she wanted to meet the person whose mind she had brushed up against. If she could do that and be back before Ves or Jun discovered she was gone, everything would be fine.
Easing out of the cabin, Palla-Palla sensed Jun's joy as the teen swam in the lake. It felt good. Cautiously she felt for Ves's mind. Ves was still prowling the forest in fox form. She could feel Ves's joy and it felt good, too. Knowing it was now or never, Palla-Palla scampered off into the dark forest, running until she was certain she was out of sight of the cabins.
She stopped in a thicket of trees and looked around. The dense brush blocked out most moonlight. The lake was visible from the trees, but it was unfamiliar to her. Noises could be heard in the brush, from nocturnal insects and occasionally from rodents or other night animals. A childish fear filled the teen's mind, one of getting lost and being separated from loved ones. It was a fear, given her history, that was strong in her.
"Palla-Palla just has to be a big girl," she whispered to herself, swallowing. "Follow the thoughts."
Using the thoughts she sensed as a beacon, Palla-Palla carefully picked her way through the brush and the trees. She was moving south just thirty yards from the edge of the lake. A glanced showed her a small cliff ten feet above the water, the bank eroded away over time. Her fears lurking just beneath the surface but shunted aside by her short attention span, Palla-Palla continued to follow the trail to the mind she sensed.
Though the strange woods scared her, Palla-Palla realized that the mind she was following didn't. People didn't understand what a swirl of emotions they could be. Anger, hostility, jealousy and hatred might linger just below the surface of a person's consciousness. Though it might not be something the person was dwelling on at that moment, Palla-Palla could sense it. Her PKE classes helped her to tune it out, but sometimes she couldn't and the person who seemed nice and civilized on the surface was an open contradiction to her senses.
But this mind was different. She sensed nothing about it that might make her hesitant or afraid. It was something she had rarely sensed, though most commonly when she was around Queen Serenity. It was part of what spiked her already child-like curiosity.
Entering a small clearing, Palla-Palla stopped. The mind was here, but she didn't see anything. Puzzled, the teen looked around. To her left was more woods; to her right was the lake. Cautiously she took two steps toward the bank. There was nothing she could see. But the mind she sensed was here.
And it seemed startled.
"Hello?" Palla-Palla ventured. "Palla-Palla can hear you. Why can't she see you? Are you a ghost?"
There was no response. But she could sense the confusion in the mind.
"Why don't you want to talk to Palla-Palla?" she asked. "She won't hurt you. Honest. Palla-Palla just never heard thoughts like yours before and she wanted to meet you."
Again there was no response.
"The nuns always told Palla-Palla that ignoring someone was rude," she said. "There's no need to be scared. Palla-Palla won't be frightened of you. She can hear that you're not mean and won't hurt her."
And with that, a dragon materialized before the girl. It was twenty feet tall and partially submerged in the lake. It had a long, snake-like body with short forelegs that possessed menacing talons on its toes. The creature possessed a long snout with bony ridges around the nostrils and along the mouth, and two yellow eyes with dark pupils centered behind the snout. More bony ridges circled the eyes along the brow and ran down its back. Two long, limp tendrils hung from its upper lip and extended five feet down. The creature braced its forelegs on the bank and looked down at Palla-Palla curiously.
"How do you sense me?" it asked. Its voice was like a low hiss and sharp teeth could be seen when it spoke.
"Palla-Palla can hear people's thoughts," she responded happily. Then she grew chagrined. "But she's not supposed to. Sensei says its rude. Palla-Palla is sorry for peeking, Mr. Dragon-Sir."
"You are not frightened of me?" the dragon asked.
"No, Mr. Dragon-Sir," Palla-Palla said earnestly and without guile. "Palla-Palla can hear that you don't want to hurt her." She clouded up. "She also heard that you want to be left alone. Why?"
"You would ask that question?" the dragon snorted. "Are you simple?"
"Palla-Palla is stupid," she pouted. "But it's not nice for you to say so."
The dragon stared at her.
"My apologies for insulting you," it responded. "I meant no offense by my bluntness. And I have not always had pleasant dealings with humans."
"Apology accepted," Palla-Palla smiled. "Palla-Palla is named Palla-Palla. What's your name, Mr. Dragon-Sir?"
"Dragons do not have names," it replied. "We know who we are."
"OK. May Palla-Palla call you Mr. Dragon-Sir?"
"If it makes things easier for you."
"So why do you want to be left alone, Mr. Dragon-Sir?"
"Why do you care?" the dragon asked skeptically.
"Because we're supposed to care about each other and be nice to each other," the teen responded innocently. "That's what Queen Serenity always says and she's very smart and very nice. And if Palla-Palla wants to be very smart and very nice and be a princess some day, that's what she has to do."
The dragon stared for a moment. Palla-Palla waited for his response.
"That," it began, "is very noble of you. So you are a disciple of Queen Serenity. I have heard much about her over the years, even here. You have chosen a good path."
"Thank you very much," beamed Palla-Palla. "Queen Serenity is very nice. Palla-Palla always feels good around her." An idea struck her. "Would you like to come to the palace, Mr. Dragon-Sir?"
"I think not," it replied.
"But why? Aren't you lonely here?"
"I have everything I need here," the dragon responded. "I have a beautiful lake in which to swim. I have ample food. I have a secluded spot away from the encroachment of humans in which to rest. Why would I leave?"
"Don't you have any friends?"
"What need have I for friends? I am who I am. I need no validation from others." He sagged for a moment. "And there are few of my kind left in this world anyway."
"What happened?"
"Humanity happened," it sighed. "Humanity has a hunger for more and more, and your kind rarely thinks of the impact of their actions. The land disappears, paved over by their need to remake their world to suit them. The water shrinks as your kind consumes more and more. And the appearance of my kind inspires fear in your kind. And whatever your kind fears, it destroys. There were never very many of us as a species. And there were fewer still after humans."
"Palla-Palla is sorry," the teen said forlornly. The dragon looked at her, searching for duplicity and finding none.
"Your words are appreciated," it replied.
"Maybe Palla-Palla can be your friend."
The dragon stared at her again. Palla-Palla was truly like no human it had ever encountered in its long life.
"Your offer is kind," it told her. "But do you not have others of your kind that you wish to spend your time with?"
"You mean her sisters and the Princess?" Palla-Palla asked. Then she suddenly grew worried. "Palla-Palla has to get back or else the others will be very worried. And Ves-Ves will be very mad." She hesitated. "But Palla-Palla doesn't want to leave you all alone, either, Mr. Dragon-Sir. Won't you please come back to the cabins? You can stay with us. The Princess won't mind. Just don't be scared of Ves-Ves. She gets mad really easy, but she's really a nice person."
"I do not think it would be wise," the dragon said carefully, "for me to intrude. I will be fine on my own. I have lived this way for many years. But your concern for me is - - very touching. And quite rare for your kind. I thank you. Now go back to your dwelling before you worry your friends."
"OK," Palla-Palla said, clearly disappointed. Then she brightened. "Palla-Palla was very glad to meet you, Mr. Dragon-Sir. If she can, she'll visit you again. And you can always visit her whenever you want."
"It was," the dragon began, "my pleasure, Palla-Palla. Oh, but please, would you do me one consideration?"
"If she can," Palla-Palla responded, puzzling over the word "consideration".
"Tell no one of me or where I stay," it requested. "I desire my privacy and am comfortable in this place. It would not be my desire to have to leave because of curious or fearful humans. Will you do this for me? As a friend?"
"Palla-Palla promises," the teen nodded. "She really doesn't think you have anything to be afraid of, but she promises." Shooting her hand into the air, Palla-Palla waved. "Good-bye, Mr. Dragon-Sir! Palla-Palla was very glad to meet you!"
"Good-bye, Palla-Palla," the dragon nodded. "Meeting you was a surprisingly pleasant experience as well."
And as Palla-Palla scampered off into the woods, the dragon almost seemed to be smiling.
"It's some guy," Ves grumbled as she paced back and forth outside the cabin. "Some guy got to her and pulled something. You know how trusting she is. And then he guilt-tripped her into promising not to say anything."
"Ves, don't go jumping to conclusions," Jun advised.
"What else could it be?" snapped Ves.
"It could be a lot of things," Cere frowned. "What were you going to do, roar into the forest and maul the first guy you run into?"
"Don't be stupid. I got to find out who he is, first," Ves retorted.
"Congratulations. You can be smart," Cere said acidly.
"Then when I find out who he is, THEN I maul him."
She felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled on it. Standing behind her was Usa.
"Ves, you need to calm down," Usa said softly. Ves didn't want to, but she held her tongue. "We don't know what happened. In fact, we don't know if anything happened. Taking the offensive might just turn a neutral situation into a bad one. And that would only upset Palla-Palla more."
"Well we know she met someone," Hotaru spoke up timidly. "I mean she had to have made that promise to someone. But why? What's this person so afraid of that he wants to stay anonymous?"
"That's what's got me worried," Ves exhaled.
"And there is that presence out there that several of us sensed," Jun added. "What if it's trying to get to us through Palla-Palla? Or what if she just doesn't realize what it really is? I don't want to push her right now, but it's something I'd want to know."
"Suppose it would hurt if I talked to her again?" Usa asked everyone. "I don't want to force her to betray a trust, but if she is being exploited by someone, maybe she'll open up to me about it."
"She does have a lot of respect for you," Cere said. "Maybe you can convince her where we can't."
Usa took a breath and started up the stairs. She walked past Helios, who sat on the porch in his dream trance, catching up on the evening's dreams. Entering the cabin, she walked softly over to the bedroom door Palla-Palla was behind. Her knock was timid.
"Palla-Palla? It's Usa," she said. "OK if I come in?"
"Yes, Princess," she heard through the door.
Usa entered and found Palla-Palla laying on her side on the bed. It was too dark to see her face, but Usa sensed she'd been crying. Kneeling down by the side of the bed, Usa leaned in to try to look the teen in the eye.
"Palla-Palla is sorry for wandering off," the teen said meekly. "Please don't be mad."
"We're not mad," Usa offered. "We only tell you that because we're worried that you'll get lost or get hurt. Or run into somebody who wants to hurt you."
"But Muh. . ." Palla-Palla began, then caught herself. "Palla-Palla didn't meet anyone who wanted to hurt her." She stared through the dark for a moment. "But you don't believe Palla-Palla."
"I believe you think that," Usa said. "It might even be true. I don't know. Because I don't know what happened."
"Palla-Palla promised not to tell. Please don't make her do that!"
"I'm not," Usa assured her. "But we've figured out that you met someone. We just want to know if he might be a threat to you. Was he nice to you?"
"Yes," Palla-Palla squeaked.
"Did he want something from you?"
"No."
"Then you just talked?"
"Yes. He was very nice."
"Can you say why he called you into the forest?"
"He didn't," Palla-Palla exclaimed. "Palla-Palla sensed him. She came to him. He was very shy and didn't want to talk at first. But he came around."
"So you found him?"
"Yes, Princess."
"Do you know why he's so shy? Is he afraid of something?"
There was a pause. "Palla-Palla doesn't think she should say."
"OK. So you just had your talk and then you left?"
"Palla-Palla remembered that she had snuck out," the girl related, "and that she had to get back before Ves-Ves found out and got mad. And he said that Palla-Palla should go because he didn't want her to worry everyone. He's very nice like that."
"I see," Usa nodded. "Were you going to see him again?"
Even in the dark, Usa could see the girl's lips thin into a worried line. "Palla-Palla would like to - - if it's OK. But she doesn't think Ves-Ves would like it, so she better not."
"OK," Usa said, patting Palla-Palla on the shoulder. "Sounds like you've got things under control. Sorry if we upset you, but we were just worried about you."
"Palla-Palla knows," the girl said softly. "It's because Palla-Palla is stupid. Thank you for keeping Palla-Palla safe."
"No charge," Usa said, rising to her feet. "Get some sleep."
Closing the door behind her, Usa paused in the main room of the dark cabin and wondered if she'd handled the situation correctly.
"Boy, I wish Diana was here," she whispered. "I always feel better talking these things over with her."
The sound of an air car engine broke Usa from her reverie. The girl moved to the outside door and pulled it open. Stepping onto the porch, the Princess saw an air car with palace markings landing in the clearing by the cabins. Once the craft was touched down, its passengers emerged.
It was the Elder Senshi.
Continued in Chapter 4